Outcome of Femoral Plate Osteosynthesis in a Teaching Hospital in a Developing Country.

Background: Fractures of the femur are a common presentation of traumatic injuries and are usually associated with other injuries. The need for surgical fixation is undisputed although operative options are varied, and often the choice is based on fracture pattern, available facilities and the surgeon\'s preference. This decision should be determined by the predicted functional outcome rather than by the type of implant to be used. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the results of treatment of femoral shaft fractures using plate osteosynthesis in our centre.
Method: This was a retrospective study done by reviewing the medical records of patients presenting with femoral shaft fractures between 2005 and 2012.
Results: A total of two hundred and four patients underwent plate osteosynthesis of femoral shaft fractures within the period under consideration. One hundred and seventy (83.3%) patients achieved clinical and radiological union after an average of 5months. There were 12 (5.9%) nonunions, 10 (4.9%) infected implants and 4 (2%) broken implants.
Conclusion: Plate osteosynthesis is vital in the management of femoral fractures especially in developing countries where the cost of care is entirely borne by the patients and relations. Careful patient selection and meticulous post-operative follow-up care are essential for a favourable outcome.