Treatment of Bilateral Fractures of Lower Extremities

We reviewed the treatment of ten patients with bilateral long bone fractures of lower extremities. Six patients had bilateral leg fractures. 2 patients had a leg fracture and a contralateral femoral fracture and 2 patients had bilateral femoral fractures. Seventeen fractures were treated operatively and three conservatively. The average period from surgery to P. W. B. (Partial Weight Bearing) was 85.6 days in comminuted fractures and 38.6 days in non-comminuted fractures. Intra-articular fractures of the ankle which included three comminuted fractures needed 84.0 days before P. W. B and bilateral femoral fractures needed 78.0 days on average. Fractures of the upper extremity and foot affected the starting time of P. W. B.. The average period from P. W. B. to Full Weight Bearing was 45.6 days in comminuted fractures and 17.6 days in non-comminuted fractures. From this study we think that other associated fractures, comminuted fractures and bilateral femoral fractures cause delay in post-operative treatment. For these fractures, nonweight-bearing braces are effective and it is better to use intra-medullary nailing in order to allow P. W. B. earlier.