ANALYSIS BY A NON-INVASIVE TECHNIQUE

Abstract

The stabffity of union following the conservative treatment of tibial shaft fractures has been examined in 157 patients by a non-invasive method. With this technique it is possible to ascertain when the fragments are united and whether the strength of union is sufficient for full weight-bearing without protection. The mean time required for union was 14.0 ± 9.2 weeks, with a range of 4 to 48 weeks. In 31 cases union wasjudged to be delayed; in 22 of these, intended operations were avoided because repeated stability determinations indicated progressive union. Of nine fracture variables examined, the only ones which significantly affected the time required to achieve union were the age and the weight of the patient. Irrelevant factors were the type and level of the fracture, the energy of trauma, soft-tissue injury and the presence of multiple injuries. It is often difficult to decide by conventional methods at what point union ofa tibial shaft fracture is stable enough to allow unprotected loading (Jones 1912; Watson-Jones and Coltart 1943; Edwards and Nilsson 1965; Matthews, Kaufer and Sonstegard 1974). In the search for a solution to this problem a number ofmethods, designed to provide an objective criterion of the stage of union, have been

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