title: Pediatric femur fractures: an overview of treatment.
abstract: Femur fractures in the pediatric population are common injuries which may be either isolated or associated with polytrauma. The orthopedist is faced with treatment options ranging from skin traction to more aggressive methods, including internal or external fixation. We review the pros and cons of current treatment options. A simple treatment algorithm based on age of the patient, other associated injuries, and open vs closed injury is presented.
authors.affiliation: Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, PA 15213.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Levy
authors.forename: W T
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Ward
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001858:Bone Nails; D001860:Bone Plates; D001915:Braces; D002370:Casts, Surgical; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D005269:Femur / Q000601:surgery; D005592:Fracture Fixation; D005594:Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D014143:Traction / Q000379:methods