TREATMENT OF FRACTURES OF NECK OF FEMUR

Abstract

<h3>To the Editor:</h3> —Dr. Royal Whitman's comment and criticism of my recent article have been read with much interest and profit. Despite Dr. Whitman's valued opinion, there is no question that<i>any</i>form of treatment of intracapsular fractures of the neck of the femur continues to give most of us unfavorable results. In my article, it was distinctly stated that I had my share of good and poor results by the abduction method. My belief is that this clinical fact is amply substantiated by the figures quoted by Dr. Whitman. The major points I tried to stress were: Inherently this fracture repairs indifferently irrespective of treatment, because of the anatomic structural conditions and the physique of the patients. Plaster-of-paris immobilization often adds to the hazards of the situation. Traction methods applicable to certain joint fractures are equally applicable to certain hip fractures. Dr. Whitman is partisan to complete immobilization for