Immediate Weight-Bearing After Treatment of a Comminuted Fracture of the Femoral Shaft with a Statically Locked Intramedullary Nail*

Abstract

We concluded from this two-part investigation that immediate weight-bearing after stabilization of a comminuted fracture of the femoral shaft with a statically locked intramedullary nail is safe when the construct has a relatively high fatigue strength. Immediate weight-bearing after stabilization of a fracture of the femoral shaft permits patients who have multiple fractures of the extremity to walk and to participate in physical therapy earlier, possibly decreasing the duration of the hospital stay or reducing the need for prolonged rehabilitation on an inpatient basis.