1. A consecutive series of 200 cases of tibial-shaft fractures was studied on a prospective basis.
2. The same atraumatic method of treatment was used in all cases, and the patients were followed until well after union had occurred.
3. The use of a plaster-of-Paris gaiter in the final stage of healing enabled early rehabilitation and minimized the risk of residual limitation of movement in the neighboring joints.
4. There were only twenty-four (12 per cent) delayed unions and a single case of non-union (0.5 per cent) in this series.
5. Perfect clinical recovery was observed in 90 per cent of the patients.
6. The final roentgenograms showed residual step-off deformity in forty-seven patients (23.5 per cent), but this had no bearing on the functional end results, with the exception of one patient.
7. Closed treatment in its simplest form is a very reliable method for tibial-shaft fractures.