Abstract

Functional treatment of tibial shaft fractures can be regarded as a physiological method. In the absence of relevant data in the literature, a study was carried out to see whether young subjects treated in this way return more quickly and fully to sport in addition to obtaining a good clinical result. The subjects were 50 young athletes treated in accordance with the functional method between 1980 and 1986: 38 noninvasively with a functional cast, 21 with a combination of Ender nails and prefabricated brace or a functional cast. A thorough evaluation protocol was used in all cases to determine the quality and time of consolidation, and the effective return to sport and its level. The combined surgical-functional method proved superior when judged from the objective data and the consolidation time, whereas no real difference between the two groups could be discerned with regard to the return to sport. Verf.-Referat