Early protected weight bearing in African patients with fractures of the femur.

Among 100 cases of closed fracture of the femur admitted to a Nigerian hospital during the years 1954--71, and treated by skin or skeletal traction, the mean time to clinical union was 6 weeks and to discharge on protected weight bearing 7 weeks. There were no cases on non-union. It is suggested that the traditional recommendation of 12-14 weeks in traction to ensure clinical union of a fracture of the femur should be revised, at least in African patients.