title: [Management of shaft fractures with elastic titanium nails in pediatric patients].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the course of pediatric patients with femur shaft fractures managed with elastic titanium nails.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive, longitudinal, ambispective study was conducted at UMAE HTYOLV analyzing femur fractures in patients from one and a half to 16 years of age who were managed with elastic titanium nails during a 5-year period. Bone healing, complications, hip and knee ranges of motion, and gait were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-one fractures were found in 70 patients. Clinical and radiographic bone healing was observed at a mean of 8.13 weeks, regardless of the type and location of the fracture, and patient age and weight. Two patients had delayed bone healing and one patient progressed to pseudoarthrosis. Among the 70 patients, 54 (77.6%) did not have any complications, and 16 (22.4%) had complications. Sixty-seven patients (95.9%) had full knee and hip mobility without gait alterations; 2 (2.7%) required 3 months of special physical rehabilitation, and one (1.4%) continued having hip and knee stiffness and could not walk.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Elastic titanium nails represent an alternative for the management of femur shaft fractures in pediatric patients. Adherence to the technique and indications for their use yields better results and results in fewer complications.
authors: Hospital de Traumatología y Ortopedia Lomas Verdes del Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social. osc_arm1@hotmail.com
authors: O
authors: O
authors: Ruíz-Mejía
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Pimentel-Rangel
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Escudero-Rivera
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Valle-de Lascurain
authors: J A
authors: JA
authors: Oribio-Gallegos
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001858:Bone Nails; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004548:Elasticity; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014025:Titanium
chemical_list: D014025:Titanium