Removal of flexible titanium nails in children.
Removal of hardware in children after orthopaedic procedures is controversial. The authors retrospectively reviewed hospital charts and radiographs of 143 children who underwent removal of flexible titanium nails from the femur and the forearm. In 16 children the nails were removed because of protrusion, skin irritation, and some discomfort. Most of the patients were asymptomatic and underwent nail removal electively, according to the authors' policy for routine hardware removal in children. Complications included unsuccessful nail removal in three children and refractures after nail removal in two. Although the authors are still inclined to remove flexible titanium nails in most of the patients, the need for routine elective execution of this procedure may be questionable.
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel. simanovsky@hadassah.org.il
Naum
N
Simanovsky
Mohammad Abu
MA
Tair
Natalia
N
Simanovsky
Shlomo
S
Porat
D000293:Adolescent; D001858:Bone Nails; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D020878:Device Removal; D005260:Female; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D005543:Forearm Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D011885:Radius Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies