Mechanics of Treatment

Abstract

Charley Davidson did not belong to a motorcycle gang. He had never heard of Sturgis, South Dakota, and did not even have a tattoo, but he loved the rush of wind in his face as he rode his big motorcycle back and forth to work. He was a very careful rider and always wore his helmet, but he was always worried about the lack of courtesy automobile drivers often show around bikes. It was not discourtesy, however, that caused a pickup truck suddenly to turn in front of him. The ensuing collision with a road sign resulted in a severe, open fracture of Davidson’s leg. After an assessment in the emergency room indicated no other injuries, he was taken to the operating room, where the large soft tissue wound was cleaned and debrided, and his tibia stabilized with a monoplane external fixture. Will such a stabilization device allow this fracture to heal?