Functional Treatment of Fractures

Augusto Sarmiento, MD and Loren L. Latta, PhD

Augusto Sarmiento, MD developed the concept of functional bracing of fractures by adapting the principles that were used in the development of the patellar tendon-bearing prosthesis for below-the-knee amputees. With this report, he brought to the orthopaedic community the concept of functional treatment as opposed to non-weight-bearing immobilization. Prior to the introduction of these concepts, the standard of practice in the treatment of tibial fractures was non-weight-bearing immobilization in a long leg plaster cast. This concept subsequently has been applied to the nonoperative management of other diaphyseal fractures as well. Stable, well-aligned fractures can be treated effectively with functional bracing, and this technique remains the method of choice for the treatment of many fractures to this day. The increased demand for restoration of anatomic alignment and complete freedom from immobilization has led to a greater emphasis on the use of internal fixation to stabilize fractures of the tibial shaft and other diaphyseal fractures over the last two decades, yet the basic principles outlined in this landmark work remain the foundation for contemporary nonoperative treatment of diaphyseal fractures.

Material Covered

• Indications
• Contraindications
• Casting and Bracing of Tibial Fractures
• Bracing of Humeral Fractures
• Bracing of Ulnar Fractures
• Casting of Colles' Fractures
• Functional vs. IF Management of Fractures

Specifications

• Total Run Time: 48:00 minutes
• Catalog Number: 2022
• VJO Publication Date: June, 2007