Treatment of Paediatric Femoral Shaft Fracture with Titanium Elastic Nails

The operative fixation of pediatric femoral fractures is increasing being done nowadays. Children of age less than six years can be best treated by traction followed by cast method but the conventional traction and casting method for management of pediatric femoral fractures is giving way for the operative stabilization of the fracture in children more than six years. Twenty patients in age group 6-14 years with femoral fractures were treated with titanium nails. The final results were evaluated using the Flynn et al.; criteria[1]. In Results were excellent in 14, satisfactory in 5 and poor in 1 patient. The average time for fractures to unite is 9.8 (7-14.5) weeks. The soft tissue impingement near the knee produced by the nails ends was the most common problem encountered. There was knee flexion restriction in 3 patients and shortening was present in 2 patients. There was no case of infection, delayed union or refracture. TENS is an ideal modality of treatment for pediatric femoral fracture fixation because it avoids the chances of pin tract infections, long scars and long term immobilization associated with spica cast.