["Spontaneous" fracture of femur following damage to the iliotibial tract].

Gravity apart, muscles act on the skeleton in balancing the usually excentric weight. This raises the load of the skeletal element but reduces the flexion strain. Loss of the traction-effect of a muscle or its aponeurosis produces overloading of the bone involved and may lead to fracture. This theortetical concept is supported by a clinical case of fracture of the femur which occurred a long time after the iliotibial tract had been eliminated.