title: Treatment of femoral shaft fractures in children by intramedullary Kirschner wires.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We present a retrospective analysis of a case series to evaluate closed intramedullary Kirschner wire (K-wire) fixation as a surgical technique in the treatment of femoral shaft fractures in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-three femoral shaft fractures (at various levels) were fixed by using closed intramedullary K-wires. The patient was placed supine on an orthopedic traction table. Under fluoroscopic control, two K-wires (2.5-3.5 mm thick) were introduced from distal metaphysis to the proximal metaphysis, one each, from medial and lateral cortices. In three distal fractures, K-wires were inserted antegrade from the proximal to distal metaphysis through the lateral cortex. Early mobilization and weight bearing was allowed. Mean hospital stay was 6.5 days, and K-wires were removed after a mean of 5.6 months. The study included seven open fractures as well.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sound unions were achieved between 6 and 10 weeks without any significant complication.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Closed intramedullary K-wire fixation for femoral shaft fractures in children is a simple surgical technique that has excellent clinical and functional results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, King Khalid Hospital, Najran, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Qidwai
authors.forename: Z K
authors.initials: ZK
authors.lastname: Khattak
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001864:Bone Wires; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D005594:Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male