Treatment of femoral shaft fractures by straight dynamic compression plates

Plating of the femoral shaft fractures is usually indicated for cases not suited for intramedullary nailing. Although the interlocking nail has made the field of plating much narrower, yet the plate is still popularly used. A group of femoral shaft fractures treated by plating is presented, the cases were treated according to the AO principles. The cases were assessed around 4 months and one year post operatively according to a special follow up system depending on a numerical score and formed of eight points namely pain, weight bearing, walking ability, quadriceps function, knee movement, union, alignment and infection. The complications included infection, malalignment, failure of fixation, delayed union and non union