Respiratory Complications after Early versus Late Stabilization of Femoral Shaft Fracture

Background: respiratory problems are common after longbone fractures. the objective of the present investigation is toevaluate the effect of early fixation of femoral shaft fractureon the incidence of respiratory problems.methods: the results of early and late stabilization of femoralshaft fractures were studied in 150 patients. the patients weredivided into two groups according to the status of their fractures.group i (n=123) had single and group ii had multiplefractures including femoral fractures. the patients in each groupwere divided into two subgroups, depending on whether operatedwithin 48 hours (early) or in a longer period (late) afterinjury. serial arterial blood gas and chest radiographs were obtainedto assess the acute respiratory distress syndrome, fat embolismsyndrome, and abnormal blood gas values.results: among 123 patients in group i, 63 were operatedearly after trauma, and the incidence of respiratory complicationswas 3.3% in comparison with 23.7% in the group ii.whereas, in group ii, 14 patients were in early operated subgroupand 13 in late operated subgroup and the incidences ofrespiratory complication were 7.1% and 76.5% respectively.there was a significant difference in subclinical fat embolismbetween early and late operated subgroups in group ii.conclusion: early fixation of femoral shaft fracture in patientswith femoral fractures greatly reduces pulmonary complications.