Ender nail fixation of pediatric femur fractures: a biomechanical analysis.
Biomechanical testing was performed to determine the effects of flexible intramedullary nail fixation on simulated transverse and comminuted midshaft femur fractures using two Ender nails. A synthetic adolescent-size femur model was used. The axial and rotational stiffness values for the simulated comminuted fracture were equivalent to those of the transverse fracture under "touch-down weight-bearing" loads. These data suggest that length and rotational control of comminuted midshaft femur fractures with two divergent Ender nails may be sufficient for early mobilization.
Lee
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Children's Hospital and Health Center and University of California at San Diego, San Diego, California 92123-4293, U.S.A.
Mahar
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Newton
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D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001835:Body Weight; D001858:Bone Nails / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards*; D004434:Early Ambulation; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000145:classification / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D005594:Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D018460:Fractures, Comminuted / Q000145:classification / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012399:Rotation; D014102:Torsion Abnormality; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016474:Weight-Bearing