Objective: To describe the complications observed in patients suffering from a limb fracture treated by a traditional method at home before being admitted to hospital. Patients and Method: This was a prospective descriptive study, carried out in the orthopedic-trauma department of the CHU Communautaire of Bangui from January 1 to December 31, 2015. Patients included in the follow-up department had Limb fractures treated by the traditional method and presenting a complication. These patients should indicate their consent and provide information on the traditional treatment received. Those who had undergone mixed treatment, those who were not consenting and those who presented no complications were excluded. The study was conducted during consultations, and hospitalization. Each patient included was asked about the traditional product used, the stages in the treatment of the fracture. A survey form was used to collect the data and included variables such as age, sex, profession, provenance, fracture, type of fracture, product used, reasons for this choice, method used, duration of treatment and course of treatment. The data collected was analyzed using the Epi info 2012 software. Results: The mean age of the patients was 45.4 years (range 14 and 73 years). Male subjects made up75% of the sample. The Sex ratio was 3. According to the profession, the farmers were the most numerous with a proportion of 22.8%. In 58.7% of the cases, the injured came from within the country. The average consultation time was 4 months. Fractures were common in the leg (32.6%), the femur (27.2%) and the humerus (16.3%). Most fractures (79.3%) were closed. The traditional means used were mainly vegeTable leaves (31.5%), tree bark (17.4%)and wild onions (9.8%). These products were used in 62% of cases by application to the fracture site followed by a bandage. In 66.3% of the cases, the fractures were not reduced before treatment and not immobilized in 57.6% of the cases. In the 42.4% of cases the fractures were immobilized and, the immobilization materials were pieces of wood (17.4%), braided Chinese bamboo (16.3%) and bark of wood (8, 7%). The products were renewed every5 to 7 days in 75% of the cases. Vicious calluses (31.3%), non-union (25.2%) and joint stiffness (14%) were the main complications. Confidence (55.4%) motivated the choice of this treatment. Conclusion: The traditional treatment of fractures is a common practice in our country. Our study found a high frequency of complications due to ignorance of the principles of fracture treatment by traditional healers. The identification, training and awareness of these traditional healers about their limits, the implementation of a collaboration mechanism with modern medicine are strategies to be developed in order to reduce the rate of these complications.
