title: Traction and spica casting for closed femoral shaft fractures in children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the treatment outcome of skin traction followed by spica casting for closed femoral shaft fractures in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between September 1997 and December 2001 inclusive, outcomes of 63 children aged one month to 15 (mean, 5.3) years with closed femoral shaft fractures managed with skin traction and spica casting were reviewed. Depending on age, patients were kept in traction from 2 to 15 (median, 9) days, then in spica casts for 2 to 8 (median, 5) weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Bony union took 3 to 12 (median, 6) weeks. There were no malunion, nonunion, or rotational deformities. Nor were there any significant limb length discrepancies, pressure sores, or nerve palsies. On no occasion was a spica cast removed and reapplied for loss of fracture reduction. At final follow-up, limb length discrepancy was noted in 14 (22%) of the patients, but none had a discrepancy of greater than 1.5 cm or a short-legged gait.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Skin traction followed by spica casting for closed femoral shaft fractures in children is safe, cost-effective and associated with a low complication rate. It is effective in children below 5 years of age and no less effective in older children, except in instances of open fracture, multiple fractures, or older children with large statures, which conditions render them intolerant to spica casts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery, Kandang Kerbau Womens' and Childrens' Hospital, Singapore. davelyh@singnet.com.sg
authors.forename: Y H D
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: K B I
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: G X
authors.initials: GX
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mahadev
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: E H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D002370:Casts, Surgical; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D005596:Fractures, Closed / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014143:Traction