Fractures of the tibial shaft from skiing accidents were compared with
fractures of other etiology. Skiing fractures more often affected the lower
third of the tibia and they seldom were open. Many were comminuted or
transverse but displacement tended to be slight. The incidence of
complications was low and the periods of hospitalization, of healing, and
of inability to work were shorter than for the other fractures. The highly
favorable prognosis was evident whatever the method used for treatment.
Methods of treatment of tibial fractures should not be compared on the
basis of experience with skiing fractures, because of the exceedingly
favorable prognosis of the latter.