Ipsilateral fracture of the femur and tibia

Thirty-two cases of simultaneous ipsilateral femoral and tibial fractures in thirty-one patients were treated by rigid internal or pin fixation of both fractures in fourteen cases, by rigid internal or pin fixation of one fracture in three, and by conservative management or non-rigid internal fixation in fifteen. Rigid internal or pin fixation of both fractures resulted in a lower incidence of complications and shorter duration of hospitalization and time to healing. An initially active surgical approach also produced considerably better functional end results: twelve of fourteen patients so treated resumed their former occupations, compared with four of thirteen patients treated conservatively.