title: Outcomes of external fixation of pediatric femoral shaft fractures.
abstract: Thirty-seven femoral shaft fractures, in 33 patients, were treated with unilateral external fixation after reduction from 1992 through 1998. Ten girls and 23 boys ranged in age from 4 to 14 years. Thirteen children had multiple injuries, whereas 20 children had isolated fractures. Average follow-up was 3 years, 9 months, with only five children lost to follow-up. The average duration in fixator was 107 days. Thirty-six of 37 fractures healed, and there was one delayed union. There was minimal angulation, and limb-length inequality was generally <1 cm; 72.7% had pin-tract infections. Eight (21.6%) patients refractured; four occurred in the four patients with bilateral femur fractures. We agree with previous reports that external fixation remains a viable option for treatment of pediatric femoral shaft fractures. However, in our series, rate of refracture (21.6%) after removal of the external fixator is significantly higher than previously reported in literature. Children with bilateral femur fractures were at greatest risk.
authors.affiliation: University of Utah, Salt Lake City, USA.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miner
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Carroll
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D005592:Fracture Fixation; D018460:Fractures, Comminuted / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D016896:Treatment Outcome