Traditional bonesetters (TBS) have been in Nigeria for centuries. Up to 85% of patients with fractures present first to the
traditional bonesetters before coming to the hospital and therefore this mode of care delivery cannot be overlooked in Nigeria.
We attempted to document the current practice of TBS in Ibadan and their methods of fracture treatment with a view to training
and improving the services offered by them. We carried out a literature search to review all previous studies on traditional
bonesetters’ practice and visited a few of them to document their current practice. The only change in the management of fractures
by the TBS over the past 28 years was the use of spiritual methods of healing to treat open comminuted fractures; a technique
for which no scientific basis was readily discernible. There is a need to educate and train the TBS in effective management
of both open and closed fractures. Such training should be provided by orthodox orthopedic surgeons with a view to minimizing
mismanagement of fractures. To this end, we propose a training algorithm.
Each author certifies that he or she has no commercial associations (eg, consultancies, stock ownership, equity interest,
patent/licensing arrangements, etc) that might pose a conflict of interest in connection with the submitted article.