Treatment for the Femoral Shaft Fractures in Adolescents / 대한정형외과학회잡지

ABSTRACT

Treatment for the femoral shaft fractures in adolescents is somewhat controversial. These fractures have been treated nonoperatively, but adolescents tolerate prolonged immobilization less well than younger children and conservative treatment in this age group may result in more complicationssuch as malunion, shortening and angular deformities more often than those in the younger age group. Recently there has been a tendency to choose the operative method rather than traditional traction and casting technique for femoral shaft fractures in elderly children and adolescent The purpose of this study is to find better treatment for the femoral shaft fractures in adolescents. Fifty six femoral shaft fractures in 56 patients aged 10 to 14 years old were treated with traction followed by casting, open reduction and internal fixation with plate, closed intramedullary nailing, or external fixation using A-0 external fixator, and evaluated respectively for at least 1 year. External fixation may be benefit to patients with concomittant injuries and result in psychological settle down, early mobilization out of bed, short hospital stay, save of cost,and early return to daily living activities without any disadvantages such as malunion, leg length discrepancy or awareness of growing arrest in spite of negligible pin tract infection. Result of this study suggests that external fixation for the femoral shaft fractures may be an one of the attractive treatment option in adolescents.