The use of plaster casts in the treatment of fractures of the femoral shaft.

In order to relieve the pressure on an overworked fracture service, the early mobilization of patients with fractures of the femoral shaft in plaster casts was investigated. The cast is designed to have a weight-relieving function and to mould the soft tissues of the thigh around the fracture. Using this method, 40 patients were discharged from hospital in an average of 44 days from injury and all their fractures healed rapidly and successfully.