title: Conservative management of femoral shaft fractures in children.
abstract: Thirty-two children with femoral shaft fractures were treated conservatively with initial skin traction followed by an additional period in a spica cast. After 12 to 20 months of follow up, none had any pain and all of them were attending school without problems. Shortening of more than 2 cm occurred in 6 (19%) of the 32 patients. The most important factor associated with shortening was an overlap of more than 2 cm of shortening of the fracture ends at the time of cast fitting. The average compensatory overgrowth at final assessment was 7 mm. Angular deformity did not pose a problem. This is a safe, simple and practical method to treat childhood femoral shaft fractures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Moses
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Razak
mesh_terms: D002370:Casts, Surgical; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000628:therapy*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012867:Skin; D014143:Traction; D016896:Treatment Outcome