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Abstract
Disuse osteoporosis following tibial fractures is associated with pain and prolonged
rehabilitation. In a prospective study, 22 patients with stable tibial fractures treated
in plaster of Paris were compared with 15 patients in whom unstable tibial fractures
were treated by external fixation. All patients were allowed to bear full weight from
the day after the injury. The patients treated with plaster of Paris had the less
severe fractures but still had a greater number of the higher grades of osteoporosis.
We found a significantly lower degree of osteoporosis in the external fixator group.
A comparison of the median percentage bearing weight in the two groups of patients
showed greater percentage bearing weight in the external fixator group at four and
eight weeks after the injury. We suggest that the reduction of post-traumatic osteoporosis
is due to improved early function and weight bearing in patients treated by external
fixation.