title: Traction spica cast for femoral-shaft fractures in children.
abstract: We treated 20 children for an isolated femoral shaft fracture using distal tibial traction incorporated into a spica cast with the knee in full extension. Patients were discharged from the hospital at a mean of 5.1 days following injury. All fractures healed, and there were four minor complications. At a mean follow-up of 35 (13-72) months, all patients were asymptomatic with normal function. All but one fracture healed in acceptable alignment, and there was no clinically significant leg-length discrepancy. The method is relatively simple to employ and may be advantageous in a setting of limited resources.
authors.affiliation: Davao Medical Center, Phillippines. Gracilla@infonline.net
authors.forename: Ranulfo V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Gracilla
authors.forename: Hilario M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Diaz
authors.forename: Noel R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Penaranda
authors.forename: Jose M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Pagsisilgan
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Spiegel
authors.forename: Dante
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Quirapas
authors.forename: Espiridion R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Reyes
mesh_terms: D002370:Casts, Surgical; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D017102:Fracture Healing / Q000502:physiology; D005596:Fractures, Closed / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012494:Sampling Studies; D014143:Traction / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome