PURPOSE To evaluate the treatment outcome of skin traction followed by spica casting for closed femoral shaft fractures in children. METHODS Between September 1997 and December 2001 inclusive, outcomes of 63 children aged one month to 15 (mean, 5.3) years with closed femoral shaft fractures managed with skin traction and spica casting were reviewed. Depending on age, patients were kept in tra...

Background: Comminuted fractures happen frequently due to traumas. Fixation without opening the fracture site,known as minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis (MIPO), has recently become prevalent. This study has beendesigned to assess the outcomes of this treatment for tibial and femoral comminuted fractures.Methods: A total of 60 patients with comminuted femoral or tibial fractures were opera...

BACKGROUND The treatment of congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia remains difficult and controversial. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term results of a technique consisting of excision of the pseudarthrosis, autologous bone-grafting, and insertion of a Williams intramedullary rod into the tibia. METHODS Twenty-one consecutive patients with congenital pseudarthrosis of the...

Septic arthritis of the hip in children has multiple sequelae and may result in severe disability. Significant morbidity can be prevented by early recognition and treatment. The authors reviewed 13 children with 14 hips with sequelae of septic arthritis of the hip. All of children had history of hip septic arthritis before age of 4 years. Six were male subjects, and 7 were female subjects. We e...

Background. The use of an external fixator for the purpose of distraction osteogenesis has been applied to a wide range of orthopedic problems caused by such diverse etiologies as congenital disease, metabolic conditions, infections, traumatic injuries, and congenital short stature. The purpose of this study was to analyze our experience of utilizing this method in patients undergoing a variety...

BACKGROUND Intramedullary (IM) nailing is the method of choice for the treatment of most femoral shaft fractures. However, despite successful solid union, great initial fracture comminution can lead to significant leg length discrepancy affecting normal gait mechanics. Femoral osteotomy and distraction osteogenesis over the pre-existing IM nail could restore this limb inequality. METHODS Five...

Instability of the hip joint in the young adult is a difficult problem. Patients with an unstable hip secondary to any aetiology usually have loss of bone from the proximal femur or shortening of the limb or both. In this study we report our results in the treatment of the unstable hip joint in young adults by pelvic support osteotomy using the Ilizarov method. From 1997 to 2004, 25 patients (1...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Ilizarov's technique and intramedullary rodding have often been used individually in congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia. In this series, we attempted to combine the advantages of both methods while minimizing the complications. METHODS We reviewed 15 cases of congenital pseudoarthrosis of the tibia (CPT) who were treated with a combination of Ilizarov's apparatus an...