title: Elastic stable intramedullary nailing for pediatric long bone fractures: experience with 175 fractures.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To demonstrate the effectiveness of intramedullary fixation of displaced long bones shaft fractures in skeletally immature children using the elastic stable intramedullary nails.
  
  
  METHODS
  The case records of 173 children who underwent fixation with titanium intramedulary nails because of long bones fractures were reviewed. The average age of the patients was 11.7 years, and mean follow-up was 41.3 months. There were 55 humeral, 42 forearm, 42 femoral and 36 tibial fractures. Subjective satisfaction was assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients achieved complete healing at a mean of 7.5 weeks. Complications were recorded in 11 (6.3%) patients and included: one neuropraxia, six entry site skin irritations, two protrusions of the wires through the skin and two skin infections at the entry site. In a subjective measure of outcome at follow-up, 89% of patients were very satisﬁed and 11% satisﬁed; no patients reported their outcome as not satisﬁed. The implants were removed at a median time of six months from the index operation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Elastic Stable Intra-medullary Nailing is the method of choice for the pediatrics patients, because it is minimaly invasive and shows very good functional and cosmetic results. It allows an early functional and cast-free follow-up with a quick pain reduction.
authors: Department of Pediatric Surgery, University Hospital Split and Split University School of Medicine, Split, Croatia.
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Furlan
authors: Z
authors: Z
authors: Pogorelić
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Biočić
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Jurić
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Budimir
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Todorić
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Šušnjar
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Todorić
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Meštrović
authors: K P
authors: KP
authors: Milunović
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001858:Bone Nails; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D005594:Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary / Q000295:instrumentation*; D017102:Fracture Healing; D006801:Humans; D006810:Humeral Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011859:Radiography; D011885:Radius Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D014025:Titanium; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D014025:Titanium