title: The Targon PH(®) nail for distal femoral fracture fixation in disabled children. A report of three cases.
abstract: Recommendations for distal femoral fracture treatment in children with neuromuscular disease are various, including conservative, plating, nailing, and ESIN. All methods have disadvantages. Retrograde femoral intramedullary nailing using a statically interlocked Targon PH nail was performed in three cases. A right nail was used for a right femur (and vice versa). A short nail was used for supracondylar fractures, a long nail for distal femoral shaft fractures. Closed reduction was performed in all cases. Despite osteopenia, small bone dimensions and muscle dystrophy, no intraoperative or postoperative complications occurred. All cases achieved primary stability, allowing immediate rehabilitation. Bone healing occurred uneventfully within four months. No deterioration of functional status or range of motion was seen. There were no peri-implant fractures or hardware removal need over a two-year-period. Retrograde femoral nailing with the Targon PH nail seems to be a reasonable treatment concept for these rare and demanding cases.
  
  
  METHODS
  IV.
authors: Department of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, Klinikum Nürnberg Sued, Breslauer Strasse 201, 90471 Nuernberg, Germany. Electronic address: biber@klinikum-nuernberg.de.
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Biber
authors: Department of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, Klinikum Nürnberg Sued, Breslauer Strasse 201, 90471 Nuernberg, Germany. Electronic address: hwstedtfeld@web.de.
authors: H-W
authors: HW
authors: Stedtfeld
authors: Department of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, Klinikum Nürnberg Sued, Breslauer Strasse 201, 90471 Nuernberg, Germany. Electronic address: hermann-josef.bail@klinium-nuernberg.de.
authors: H J
authors: HJ
authors: Bail
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001858:Bone Nails; D005260:Female; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D005594:Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary / Q000295:instrumentation*; D017102:Fracture Healing; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male
keywords: Dandy-Walker syndrome; Duchenne muscular dystrophy; Femur fractures; Intramedullary Nailing; Targon PH nail