Femoral shaft fractures in children: technique of immediate treatment with supracondylar Kirschner wires and one-and-a-half spica cast.
Sixty-five children between 3.5 and 12 years of age with femoral shaft fractures were treated with fixed traction using supracondylar Kirschner wires incorporated in a one-and-a-half spica cast. Medial angulation up to 15 degrees, lateral angulation up to 5 degrees, and overriding up to 2 cm have been accepted. Posterior and anterior angulations have been rejected. After an average 4-year follow-up, neither joint stiffness nor skeletal deformity developed. At follow-up, maximal shortening was 0.8 cm, and overgrowth was 0.5 cm. Except for complicated cases, the use of this method is justified.
Celiker
O
O
Orthopaedic Department, Social Security Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
Cetin
I
I
Sahlan
S
S
Pestilci
F
F
Altuğ
M
M
D001864:Bone Wires; D002370:Casts, Surgical; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009984:Orthopedic Fixation Devices; D011859:Radiography