Background: Pediatric femoral shaft fractures management have Various nonoperative and operative
modalities. Methods: This prospective study was held on 40 patients with facture shaft femur; 20
patients treated by hip spica and 20 patients treated by elastic rods. Results: In a prospective cohort
study we managed 40 cases of closed femoral shaft fractures in children during the sixth year of their
lives (5-6 year) by closed reduction and hip spica (20 patients) and by intramedullary nails (20
patients). Comparing the results of both techniques we found that intramedullary fixation technique to
be associated with trivially longer hospital stay (1-2 days),higher incidence of infection (5% versus
0%), lower recovery of range of motion by time of complete healing (129 ± 5 versus 132 ± 4
measured in degrees)) shorter time to heal (45 ± 15 versus 55 ± 20 days), walk with aids (25 ± 7
versus 55 ± 10days), walk independently (45 ± 12 versus 60 ± 10 days) and less incidence of
malalignment (0% versus 5mbjmmbn %). Conclusion: intramedullary elastic rods in five and six
years old children in our study and in other studies has achieved good results in comparison to hip
spica cast mostly for its capability of allowing early mobilization ,weight bearing and return to full
activities early |
