Treatment of Long Bone Fracture in Children by Titanium Elastic Nailing Stabilization

ABSTRACT

Purpose: To demonstrate the effectiveness of intramedullaryfixation of displaced long bones shaft fractures in skeletallyimmature children using the elastic stable intramedullary nails.Patients and Methods: The case records of 20 children whounderwent fixation with titanium intramedulary nails because oflong bones fractures were reviewed. There were 2 humeral, 3forearm, 10 femoral and 5 tibial fractures. The average age ofthe patients was 11 years, and they were followed-upto 20months. Subjective satisfaction was assessed.Results: All patients achieved complete healing at a mean of7.5 weeks. Complications observed in patients were oneneuropraxia, six entry site skin irritations, two protrusions of thewires through the skin and two skin infections at the entry site.In a subjective measure of outcome at follow-up, 89% ofpatients were very satisfied while 11% were satisfied. Therewas no report of patient’s unsatisfaction. The implants wereremoved at a median time of six months from the indexoperation.Conclusion: Elastic Stable Intra-medullary Nailing isthe method of choice for the pediatric patients, because it isminimally invasive and shows very good functional andcosmetic results. It allows an early functional and cast-freefollow-up with a quick pain reduction.