Titanium elastic nail fixation for paediatric femoral shaft fractures

ABSTRACT

In the period from January 2000 to September 2004, 25 children with 25 fernoral shaft fractures were treated by retrograde titanium elastic nail fixation in the Paediatric Orthopaedic Unit of Al-Razi Orthopaedic Hospital in Kuwait. Two nails of the same diameter were used for the fixation of each femoral shaft fracture using a fracture table and under image intensifier control. Postoperatively, early graduated weight bearing was allowed and the children were followed up clinically and radiographically. The nails were removed after fracture consolidation. Our results are compatible with those of the largest series of titanium elastic nails with universal union of the fractures, no refractures, occasional skin irritation by the nails and occasional minor lower limb length discrepancies