We treated 52 elderly patients with femoral neck fractures from 1988 to 1992, with closed reduction and multiple pinning performed in 27 of these patients.
A new pool system, which we developed 4 years ago, was used in the postoperative management after multiple pinning. The system consists of a treadmill on the bottom of the small pool and a flow water circulating system. About two weeks after Surgery, patients started walking in the pool without the risk of full-weight-bearing, and there-fore avoided disuse muscle atrophy and complications associated with bed rest. Patients were willing to walk on the treadmill, because the pain was reduced in the heated pool and walking on it required less energy. There were no major complications after the early pool training.
