title: External fixation of femur fractures in children.
abstract: Forty-two children (44 femur fractures) were treated by primary external fixation and early weightbearing (1984-1989). The fractures were reduced anatomically when possible. Average age at fracture was 9 years 7 months (range, 2 years 5 months to 17 years 8 months). Duration of external fixation averaged 70 days (range 42-117 days). Of 176 pins, 15 (8.5%) were inflamed and five (2.8%) required intravenous antibiotics; none resulted in osteomyelitis. Most patients returned to school by 4 weeks, and all had full knee motion 6 weeks after fixator removal. Of 16 patients with documented follow-up of at least 18 months, only six (38%) had overgrowth from 2 to 10 mm (average 5.8 mm).
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Aronson
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Tursky
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D005592:Fracture Fixation; D005596:Fractures, Closed / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies