1. External fixation of pediatric femur fractures with cortical contact
- Author
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Elizabeth G, Matzkin, Eric L, Smith, Andrew, Wilson, and Patrick C, Murray
- Subjects
Fracture Healing ,Male ,Adolescent ,External Fixators ,Radiography ,Postoperative Complications ,Treatment Outcome ,Fracture Fixation ,Child, Preschool ,Humans ,Female ,Child ,Femoral Fractures ,Retrospective Studies - Abstract
The cases of 40 pediatric femur fractures treated with external fixation were reviewed to determine whether stabilization with cortical contact resulted in clinical leg-length discrepancy (LLD). Mean follow-up was 29.4 months, mean age was 6.6 years (range, 2-10 years), 25 injuries were isolated, 100% of the fixators were applied with cortical contact, all fractures healed by a mean of 92 days, 72.5% were dynamized before removal, mean LLD was 0.24 cm short, and complications included 1 refracture (2.5%), early removal of 2 loose pins (1.25% of 160 pins), pin-tract infections in 21 patients (52.5%), and 1 LLD (2.5%) of more than 1.0 cm (5.0 cm short). External fixation with cortical contact was an effective treatment for pediatric femur fractures. It limited overgrowth and resulted in few refractures. Pin-tract infections were common.
- Published
- 2006