Spontaneous Correction of the Angular Deformity after Femoral Shaft Fractures in Children: Preliminery Report / 대한정형외과학회잡지

ABSTRACT

We reviewed 14 children with unilateral fractures of femoral shaft who had an angular deformity after union of 10° to 25°. At an average follow-up of 32 months(15 to 65), we measured remodelling of the proximal physis, the distal physis and the femoral shaft. The average correction was 83% of the initial deformity and there was no relation between the remodelling rate and degrees of malunion. Of the correction of angulation, only 27% had occurred at the fracture site and 73% at physis. The ability of physis to remodel better than that of fracture site. In children under 13 years of age, malunion as much as 25° in flexion deformity will remodel enough to get normal alignment of the joint surfaces.