Patellar tendon bearing plaster casts in fractures of the tibia.

One hundred fractures of the tibial shaft were treated by early weight-bearing in a below knee patellar tendon bearing plaster cast. The rate of union, and the range of knee and ankle motion were assessed. Ninety-five per cent had good or excellent results. This method of treatment is particularly valuable in the third world because it avoids the complications of operation and also of traditional conservative methods.