Management of Diaphyseal Fractures of Long Bones in Children with Titanium Elastic Nails – A Prospective Study of 30 Cases

Background: There is a little disagreement concerning the treatment of long bone fractures in children less than 6 years ( plaster of paris cast) and adolescents older than 16 years (locked intramedullary nailing). Controversy persists regarding the age between 6 to 16 years, with several available options. Whatever the method of treatment, the goals should be to stabilize the fracture, to control length and alignment, to promote bone healing, and to minimize the morbidity and complications for the child and his/her family. The objective of this prospective clinical study was to evaluate the results of operative treatment of pediatric long bone fractures in the age group between 5 to 16 years using titanium elastic nailing system (TENS) nails. Methods: All children and adolescent patients between 5-16 years of age with diaphyseal fractures of long bones were admitted at Mamatha general and superspeciality hospital, Khammam. Meeting the inclusion and the exclusion criteria during the study period were the subjects for the study. Totally, 30 cases were studied without any sampling procedure. Patients were followed up at 6, 12 and 24 weeks after surgery and assessed clinically and radiologically. The final outcome is assessed as per Flynn’s criteria as excellent/ satisfactory/poor. Results: The final outcome was excellent in 22 (73.33%) cases, satisfactory in 8 (26.67%) cases and there were no poor outcome cases. Conclusion:Titanium elastic nail fixation is a simple, easy, rapid, reliable, excellent and effective method for management of pediatric long bone fractures between the age of 5 to 16 years, with shorter operative time, lesser blood less, lesser radiation exposure, shorter hospital stay, and reasonable time to bone healing.

Treatment of pediatric tibiofibular fractures with titanium elastic nails / 重庆医学

Objective To investigate the effect of intramedullary stabilization of tibiofibular fractures with titanium elastic nails (TENs) in children .Methods Totally 59 children patients with tibiofibular fractures ,from January 2008 to November 2013 ,were stabilized with TENs in the C‐arm fluoroscopy in our hospital .All patients were followed up after surgery ,including fracture heal‐ing ,wound conditions ,limb length ,range of motion of knee and ankle ,gait ,etc .Results All of the 59 cases were followed up for 6-36 months ,average 16 months .All fractures were healed in good alignment .There were no postoperative complications such as infections ,swelling and pain at the end of the nails ,TENs broken ,tibial epiphysis injuries and unnormal function of the lower limb joint .According to the Flynn evaluation standard ,excellent result were observed in 49 cases ,good in 10 cases ,the excellent and good rate was 100% .Conclusion Intramedullary stabilization with TENs can achieve effective fixation in the treatment of tibiofibular fractures ,it has advantages of micro‐trauma ,tiny tissue damage ,little influence on blood circulation at the fracture site ,good stabili‐ty ,rapid healing ,short hospital stay and few complications .

Operative Treatment of Pediatric Humeral Diaphyseal Fractures with Flexible Intramedullary Nails / 대한정형외과학회잡지

PURPOSE: Most humeral fractures of children are treated satisfactorily with conservative method, thus surgical treatment is often reserved for limited conditions. In cases of an open fracture, inadequate reduction or multiple traumas, children with humeral shaft fractures require operative treatment. The aim of our study was to evaluate results and complications of pediatric humeral shaft fractures that were treated with flexible intramedullary nails. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was performed for 12 patients who were treated operatively by flexible intramedullary nails between March 2009 and September 2011. Surgical indications were an open fracture, an inability to maintain an adequate reduction, concomitant fractures, refractures and combined radial nerve injury. All patients were treated with 2 titanium flexible intramedullary nails by antegrade or retrograde techniques, according to the site of the fractures. RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 15 months, and all patients achieved union status without major complications. There were no neurovascular injuries or infection during surgical procedures. However, 4 patients showed irritation at the insertion site of the nail, and 2 of them underwent early removal of nails at about 6 weeks due to skin lesions as well as pain and discomfort. One boy showed a fracture next to the proximal insertion site of the antegrade nail. All patients showed a full range of motion, and went back to daily life by the final follow-up. CONCLUSION: Flexible intramedullary nails are considered as a good option for the fracture of the pediatric humeral shaft. Surgeons should pay attention and use proper techniques to avoid complications.

Tratamiento quirúrgico de las fracturas diafisiarias de fémur y/o tibia en niños y adolescentes con clavos endomedulares elásticos / Surgical treatment of femoral shaft fractures and/or tibia in children and teens with elastic intramedullary nails

Se realizó un estudio tipo serie clínica en el que se evaluaron la totalidad de los pacientes pediátricos tratados con clavos endomedulares elásticos CITEC-ULA® para fracturas de huesos largos (fémur y tibia) entre enero de 2009 hasta diciembre de 2010, encontrándose 21 fracturas en 20 pacientes, donde predomino el género masculino en 75%, la edad escolar, y la procedencia rural en 80%. Los hechos viales como principal agente etiológico (70%). El hueso más afectado fue el fémur derecho y el tipo de fractura que más se presento fue la 32-D/5.2 (28,6%) según la clasificación AO pediátrica; 70% de los pacientes presentaron lesiones asociadas importantes. Se logró evaluar a la totalidad de los pacientes. Obteniendo 2 casos de fracturas de fémur con deformidad en varo radiológicamente y ocho (8) casos (57,1%) presento dismetría < 1,5cm.con resultados excelentes en 85,2%; buenos 7,1% y regulares en 7,1% según la escala IAHULA para las fracturas de fémur.Las fracturas de tibia funcionalmente no tuvieron ninguna complicación, solo un caso presento una dismetría > 20mm. No se reportaron deformidades angulares, con resultados excelentes en 71,4% y buenos en 28,6% según la escala IAHULA radiológica para tibia.No se presentó ninguna infección, en 10% de los pacientes ocurrieron granulomas, el diámetro más utilizado de los clavos fue de 4,0mm, el Tiempo quirúrgico < 60 minutos en tibia y > 60 minutos en fémur. El clavo elástico CITEC-ULA® debe tomarse en cuenta para futuros proyectos de tratamiento de fracturas diafisiarias en niños y adolescentes

A study such clinical series in which we evaluated all pediatric patients treated with elastic intramedullary nailsCITEC-ULA ® for fractures of long bones (femur and tibia) from January 2009 to December 2010, found 21 fractures in 20 patients, predominantly male in 75% of school age, and rural background in 80%. Facts road as the main etiologic agent (70%). The bone most affected was the right femur and the type of fracture was most 32-D/5.2 present (28.6%) according to AO classification pediatric, 70% of patients had significant associated injuries. It was possible to evaluate all the patients. Getting 2 cases of femoral fractures with varus deformity radiologically and eight (8) cases (57.1%) presented dysmetria <1.5 cm. Excellent results in 85.2%, 7.1% and regular good in 7, 1% on the scale IAHULAforfractures of the femur.Functionally tibial fractures had no complications; only one case presented a dysmetria> 20mm. No angular deformities were reported, with excellent results in 71.4% and 28.6% as good scale for radiological IAHULA tibia.Did not show any infection, in 10% of patients granulomas occurred, the diameter of the nails used was 4.0 mm, operating time <60 minutes in warm and> 60 minutes in the femur. The elastic nail CITEC-ULA ® should be considered for future projects of treatment of diaphyseal fractures in children andadolescents

Treatment of pediatric femoral and tibial fractures with titanium elastic nails / 中华创伤杂志

Objective To investigate the effect of intramedullary stabilization of lower limb fractures with titanium elastic nails (TENs) in children.Methods From June 2004 to October 2010,278 children were stabilized with TENs in our hospital,including 181 boys and 97 girlsat average age of 7.6 years (range,3.0-14 years).There were 162 patients with femoral fractures,of which 35 underwent open reduction and the rest closed reduction.There were 116 patients with tibial fractures,which was treated with closed reduction.Postoperative fixation lasted for 3-4 weeks.The mean hospital stay was seven days.Of all the patients,272 patients received the removal of the TENs six months after operation and 242 received more than one year of follow-up to have a further observation on the limb length,hip and knee mobility and gait condition in children.Results All the patients were followed up for 6-66 months (mean,33 months).All fractures were healed in good alignment without severe complications.There were no intraoperative complications like infections,delayed union,nonunion,TEN broken and femoral or tibial epiphysis injuries.Ten patients suffered from swell and skin irritation in the nail' s position 3-4 months after operation,and the nails were removed in advance.Nineteen patients showed unequal lengths ( within 1 cm) of the lower limbs,with normal function of the lower limb joint but with no obvious limp.According to the Flynn evaluation standard,the excellent and good rate was 100％.Conclusions Characterized by good stability,rapid healing,small incision,anatomic reduction,unimpaired periosteum,short hospital stay and few complications,intramedullary stabilization with titanium elastic nails can achieve effective fixation in the treatment of lower limb fractures in children.

Strategy for treatment of subtrochanteric femur fractures in children and adolescents / 中华创伤杂志

Objective To evaluate the treatment methods for subtrochanteric femur fractures in children and adolescents.Methods Sixty-two patients (at age of 4-16 years) with subtrochanteric fe-mur fractures were managed with traction and delayed hip spica (14 patients, set as nonoperative group) ,titanium elastic nails or pin combined with cast (38 patients, set as less invasive group) and plates (10 patients, set as traditional operative group).The radiologic outcomes, hip joint function and complica-tions of the patients were analyzed.Results According to Beaty scoring, five patients in nonoperative group and 44 in operative group obtained satisfactory early radiologic outcomes.Late radiologic outcome was satisfactory in nine patients from nonoperative group and 46 from operative group according to Theolo-gis scoring, with statistical differences between two groups (P<0.05).Sanders scoring showed excellent results in 11 patients and good in three from nonoperative group, and excellent results in 43 and good in five from operative group, with no statistical differences between two groups (P > 0.05).Less invasive group and traditional operative group showed significantly statistical different in aspects of complications and Sanders scores (P < 0.05).Conclusions Operative treatment provides more satisfactory early and late radiologic results than nonoperative methods.Less invasive operations have better outcomes than tra-ditional operative methods.Selection of treatment modalities based on age, body weight, fracture features and soft tissue conditions of children is the prerequisite for a good outcome.