Injury from Traditional Bonesetter Fracture Management

Abstract

One of the most difficult challenges that surgeons trained in modern surgical techniques face when working in less developed areas of the world is the myriad of complications arising from traditional healing practices and in the case of orthopaedic trauma, from bonesetters. Complications commonly include extensive soft tissue damage, infections, malunions, non-unions, gangrenous limbs, infections and death. Nevertheless, bonesetters, like other traditional healing practitioners, enjoy the support and patronage of a large sector of the local population. Some researchers have proposed that given the privileged position that these practitioners enjoy in many societies, it is probably more beneficial to establish a dialogue, offer some insight into the complications that some of their treatments may cause and establish training programmes to try to ensure a minimum of safe management practice. An adversarial relationship with bonesetters may only serve to alienate the people that we are trying to serve in the first place.