ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To observe the course of pediatric patients with femur shaft fractures managed with elastic titanium nails. METHODS: A descriptive, longitudinal, ambispective study was conducted at UMAE HTYOLV analyzing femur fractures in patients from one and a half to 16 years of age who were managed with elastic titanium nails during a 5-year period. Bone healing, complications, hip and knee ranges of motion, and gait were assessed. RESULTS: Seventy-one fractures were found in 70 patients. Clinical and radiographic bone healing was observed at a mean of 8.13 weeks, regardless of the type and location of the fracture, and patient age and weight. Two patients had delayed bone healing and one patient progressed to pseudoarthrosis. Among the 70 patients, 54 (77.6%) did not have any complications, and 16 (22.4%) had complications. Sixty-seven patients (95.9%) had full knee and hip mobility without gait alterations; 2 (2.7%) required 3 months of special physical rehabilitation, and one (1.4%) continued having hip and knee stiffness and could not walk. CONCLUSIONS: Elastic titanium nails represent an alternative for the management of femur shaft fractures in pediatric patients. Adherence to the technique and indications for their use yields better results and results in fewer complications.
