title: Elastic stable intramedullary nailing of femoral shaft fractures in children: particularities and results at Sylvanus Olympio Teaching Hospital of Lomé, Togo.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The elastic stable intramedullary nailing (ESIN) presently seems the best technique in the surgical treatment of femoral shaft fractures (FSF) in >6-year-old children. We hereby report technical difficulties and therapeutic results after our first 8 years of experience.
  
  
  METHODS
  It's a retrospective study over a period of 8 years from January 2005 to December 2012 in the Paediatric Surgery Department of Sylvanus Olympio Teaching Hospital of Lomé. Indications, technical particularities and results were studied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 32 patients, 17 were boys and 15 were girls, with a mean age of 11 years old. The mean time to surgery was 21 days (range: 14 and 51 days). A callus was always removed before reduction. The osteosynthesis was stable in 22 cases, but in 10 others, it had been completed with a cast immobilisation. The operation needed a blood transfusion in 18 cases. With a mean follow-up of 3.5 years, the results were excellent in 29 patients (90.63%) and good in 3 patients (9.37%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although undertaking an ESIN can be difficult, due to the lack of adequate equipment the procedure produces satisfactory outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Surgery, Sylvanus Olympio Teaching Hospital, BP 57 Lomé, Togo.
authors.forename: Akakpo-Numado Gamedzi
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Komlatsè
authors.forename: Boume Missoki
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Azanledji
authors.forename: Sakiye Kodjo
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Abossisso
authors.forename: Mihluedo-Agbolan Komlan
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Anani
authors.forename: Gnassingbe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Komla
authors.forename: Tekou
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hubert
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001858:Bone Nails; D002648:Child; D004548:Elasticity; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005594:Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary / Q000295:instrumentation*; D017102:Fracture Healing; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014037:Togo; D016896:Treatment Outcome