[Flexible intramedullary nailing of children].

BACKGROUND: Various methods are being used in the treatment of femur diaphysial fractures in children aged between 6 to 12 years. Titanium elastic nailing is one of the alternatives. We evaluated our experience in flexible intramedullary nailing.

METHODS: We investigated 21 patients with femur diaphysial fractures who were with titanium elastic nailing.

RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 9.6+/-2.4 (range between 5.1-14.7 years) and all the fractures were at the diaphysis. The fracture pattern was as following: 9 (42.9%) transverse, 7 (33.3%) oblique, 5 (23.8%) spiral. Fixations were performed with two nails which were implanted in retrograde manner. The average time of follow-up was 29+/-11.6 months (range; 9-48 month). The mean time to fracture union was 13+/-11.9 weeks (4-52). Implant removal was performed after a mean time of 7+/-2.2 months (range; 6-16 month). Patients's hip and knee range of motions were complete and clinically there were no angular or rotational deformity at postoperative one year. There were radiologically 11+/-1.7 (range; 10-15) degrees of varus valgus malalignment in 8 patients; these angles were reduced to 5+/-1.9 (range; 3-9) degrees at the follow of two years.

CONCLUSION: The results of the flexible titanium nailing in femur diaphysial fractures of the children, aged between 6 to 12 years, suggest that this method may be a first choice therapy in this particular group of patients.