Pre-, Intra- and Postoperative Guidelines

Abstract

In 1958, the AO started an endeavour to improve the then surprisingly poor results of fracture treatment: one-third of all tibia fractures, two-thirds of femur fractures and almost all severe fractures involving major joints ended with a relatively high degree of permanent impairment. At this time, the four basic treatment principles which aimed to improve these results were formulated: early operative anatomic reduction; stable internal fixation; atraumatic surgical technique; and very early active mobilization. To judge from the experience of the Swiss Accident Insurance (SUVA), increasing application of these principles has indeed reduced both the proportion of cases in which compensation is paid after long bone fractures (Table 6.1) and the subsequent degree of permanent impairment.