Скачать или смотреть Traditional bonesetter in action treating a compound fracture of tibia and fibula, Tanna 1990

Traditional healers on the island of Tanna were known throughout the islands of the Republic of Vanuatu for their bonesetting skills.

In this video Natuman from the village of Isini near to the hospital who was one of the better known bonesetters treats a compound fracture of the tibia and fibula. The fracture was sustained when the patient fell from the back of a pickup truck onto a coral road. The end of the tibia was actually buried in the road surface.

He was brought to the hospital, Xrayed and taken to theatre where the open fracture was thoroughly cleaned of debris and coral fragments, reduced and splinted under general anaesthetic. When he had recovered from the anaesthetic his family took him away to consult with Natuman. Over the next eight weeks of the kustom treatment Natuman and his patient permitted the hospital staff involved with the initial treatment to observe the kustom treatment sessions.

Natuman had several assistants/apprentices who helped with the preparation of the leaf poultices, bamboo splints and to hold the patient during the manipulation of the leg and the application of the splint.

The patient was given a leaf tea prior to the treatment which had painkilling properties. As you will see in the video Natuman made deep lacerations on either side of the fracture and after washing his hands he inserted his fingers into the lacerations to manipulate the bone ends back into alignment. Leaf poultices were applied to the lacerations and the wound over fracture site. The leg was dressed with leaves and splinted using bamboo strips tied into position.

The dressings and splint was changed every week for next eight weeks. By this time the skin over the fracture had healed and he was able to stand on the leg and walk with the aid of crutches supplied by the hospital. There was shortening of the leg but he resumed normal activities but always walked with a limp. For the the patient and his family this was a good outcome. The 5th photo from the end shows the final payment made by the family to Natuman. The big pile including the pig was Natuman's payment the smaller pile is the gift made by the family to the hospital staff!

The final three photos show the splinting he used to treat a fractured clavicle.

It was not unusual for families to bring patients with suspected fractures to the hospital and after confirmation by Xray, then take the patient to consult Natuman - to the frustration of hospital staff!.

Natuman was undoubtedly one of the more experienced bone setters on the island and complications such as bone infection were fortunately rare following his treatment.

Sadly Natuman died not long after these photos were taken.