Bonesetter interventions and consequences

Objective: Delaying the treatment of bone and tendon injuries may cause unmanageable complications. Bonesetters continue to cause delays in treatment. The purpose of this study was to analyze the medical outcomes of delay due to bonesetter intervention and factors affecting patient treatment preference. Methods: Among outpatients treated at our clinic between January 2010–December 2012, bonesetter- intervened patients were included, and patient demographics, clinical outcomes, and possible social factors were retrospectively analyzed. Clinical examinations and radiological screening measurements were used to evaluate outcomes. Results: Of the 162 patients, 97 (59.8%) were male, and mean age was 27.5 }9.4 years. Eighty-nine (54.9%) of the patients lived in a rural area, and 108 (66.7%) underwent surgery. Bonesetter preference was dictated primarily by elderly relatives (47.6%) or neighbors (33.3%). Patients with a primary school education and unemployed patients mostly preferred bonesetters (p=0.03 and p 0.01, respectively), the explanation for which was the long treatment period and concern of being disabled (p=0.04). Complication rate among patients who were evaluated at a hospital was 33.9%. Conclusion: Despite being medically unreliable and often times harmful, bonesetting is still accepted as an alternative treatment modality among uneducated patient and thus remains an ongoing problem in Turkey. Improvements in average education level and increased dissemination of accurate information via various media and non-governmental organizations will be effective in the correction and prevention of the afore-mentioned complications regarding bonesetter interventions.