Titanium elastic nailing in shaft femur fracture in paediatric patients

Abstract

Background: Paediatric shaft femoral fracture can be treated either conservatively or by internal fixation. Complications inherited with cast management and advantages of the intramedullary nailing in long bone fracture, resulted in increased use of this technique for paediatric shaft femur fracture. We conducted a retrospective study of the patients treated with close intramedullary nailing by using titanium elastic nail in shaft femur fracture for paediatric patients.Materials & Methods: During 2013 and 2016, we have conducted a retrospective study of 40 diaphyseal fractures of femur using closed titanium elastic nail (TEN), in paediatric patients(24 male and 16 female). Patients’ evaluation was done using Flynn criteria, resumption of school and associated complications.Results: With minimum follow-up period of 6 months, 92.5% of the patients had shown radiological union by 4 to 6 weeks with resumption of school by 8 weeks. According to Flynn criteria, excellent results were achieved in 31 (77.5%) patients, good result in 8 (20%) and poor result was present in 1(2.5%) case.Conclusions: Titanium elastic nailing in paediatric patients with shaft femur fracture is a safe, simple and reproducible technique with minimum complications, leading to early return to preinjury level with minimum morbidity.