Medicinal plants used in traditional bone-setting and fracture management in some Nigerian States

Bone-setting, which primarily focuses on the management of bone, muscle, and joint disorders is an age-long practice among traditional medicine practitioners globally. Traditional bone-setting and fracture management, is prevalent in many Nigerian communities. However, there is still much more information to publish on this knowledge in Nigeria. This study aimed to document the medicinal plants used in traditional bone-setting across Bauchi, Jigawa, Kogi, Katsina, Ondo, Plateau, and Taraba States of Nigeria. A structured questionnaire was used to collect ethnobotanical and socio-demographic data involving 66% male and 34% female respondents. The data collected were analysed using simple descriptive statistics, while an ethnobotanical survey formula was used to calculate the ‘use value’. A total of twenty-nine plants were documented across the States. Notably, plants such as Bambusa vulgaris and Vitellaria paradoxa were commonly used across Bauchi, Kogi, Ondo and Plateau States for the purpose of stabilising broken bones to facilitate proper healing. Fabaceae (32%) was the dominant plant family cited and leaves had the highest “plant parts used” in this study. The most recurrent modes of administration were oral (including pasting, chewing and drinking) and external (primarily through massage). In conclusion, traditional bonesetting remains widely practised and patronised in the understudied Nigerian states. This practice is worth documenting, since a large number of individuals across the surveyed states continue to rely on it as their preferred healthcare option.