Treatment of children’s shaft fracture of tibia and fibula with ESIN fixation

The objective is to evaluate Elastic Stable Intramedullary Nailing (ESIN) fixation through the treatment of children’s shaft fracture of tibia and fibula. From January 2007 to January 2009, 16 cases of children’s shaft fracture of tibia and fibula had been treated by ESIN. 15 cases were followed up after the surgery and the follow-up time was 4 12 months (4.5 in average). The results turn out that all the patients’ fractures have got healed by Phase I and the healing time is 10 weeks in average. The near joints’ activity and affected extremity completely return to normal. This group of cases doesn’t show any sign of infection, bone nonunion, malunion or epiphysis injury. And six patients have had their intramedullary nails taken out after six months. It can be concluded that ESIN is good for treating children’s long diaphysis fracture which has difficulty in closed diaplasis and is suitable for children aged 6 13. ESIN has the advantages of causing small incision, slight injury of soft tissue, short surgery time, rapid recovery and few complications.