THE TREATMENT OF FRACTURES OF THE FEMUR

1. THE MIDDLE THIRD  Fractures of the femur in the middle third have aroused considerable discussion in recent times regarding methods of treatment. Different mechanical methods have been advocated by different surgeons, and finally the open method with the use of Lane plates occupied the center of the stage and caused quite a little excitement.A fracture is a definite mechanical problem. First of all, a roentgenogram is necessary to see exactly what the condition is, whether transverse, oblique or comminuted. How far the fragments are riding by is also a good thing to know. In these fractures, the result is so easily obtained that, in the great majority of cases, no anesthesia is necessary, and there is no "setting of the bone" in the ordinary acceptation of that expression. Every orthopedic man learned during his early hospital training that an acute tuberculosis of the hip with its muscular rigidity