title: [Comparison of efficacy between bridge wire splints and Bryant traction for the treatment of femoral shaft fractures in children].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare clinical effects between bridge wire splint fixation and traditional Bryant traction for the treatment of femoral shaft fractures in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  From June 2006 to June 2009,38 children with femoral shaft fractures were treated with bridge wire splint fixation and Bryant traction. In bridge wire splint group, there were 15 males and 6 females, ranging in age from 8 months to 5.3 years, with an average of (2.3 +/- 0.6) years. According to fracture site classification, 5 patients were upper 1/3 femoral fractures, 9 patients were middle 1/3 femoral fractures,and 7 patients were lower 1/3 femoral fractures. In Bryant traction group,there were 10 males and 7 females, ranging in age from 10 months to 3.2 years, with an average of (2.2 +/- 0.4) years. According to fracture site classification, 4 cases were upper 1/3 femoral fractures, 10 patients were middle 1/3 femoral fractures, 3 patients were lower 1/3 femoral fractures. The clinical features, X-ray healing time,weight-bearing time and complications of the two groups were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Comparison of fracture healing time: bridge wire splint group was (6.0 +/- 0.3) weeks and Bryant traction group was (6.2 +/- 0.4) weeks; the time of weight-bearing in bridge wire splint group was (6.1 +/- 1.0) weeks and in Bryant traction group was (6.4 +/- 1.2) weeks; there was no significant difference between two groups. There was a significant difference in soft tissue complication between bridge wire splint group occurred in 3 cases and 13 cases in Bryant traction group. According to the criteria of clinical efficacy,in Bryant traction group, 12 patients got an excellent result, 4 good and 1 fair; in bridge wire splint group, the data were 17, 3 and 1 respectively,and there was no significant difference between the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both of bridge wire splint fixation and traditional Bryant traction for the treatment of femoral shaft fractures in children have good efficacy. Compared with Bryant traction,bridge wire splint fixation is simple, safe and has reliable effect.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, People's Hospital of Luotian County, Luotian 438600, Hubei, China. zy_0827@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Xin-cong
authors.initials: XC
authors.lastname: Qu
authors.forename: Zu-yi
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Xiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xiao-hui
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Feng
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D005592:Fracture Fixation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D013165:Splints; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014143:Traction / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016474:Weight-Bearing