Proximal tibial skeletal traction for femoral shaft fractures in children. Treatment to discard or retain.

Abstract

A proximal tibial skeletal traction in the treatment of femoral shaft fractures in the growing child has been reported to result in complications such as knee pain, knee joint subluxation, and growth disturbance. For the last 15 years, the authors used a single screw (instead of the Kirschner wire) inserted in the tibia perpendicular to the surface and well below the tibial tubercle physis. With the traction applied to this screw and the leg in a 90-90 position or resting on a Braun splint, none of the previously described complications were observed. This modification of the proximal tibial skeletal traction is a simple, quick, and safe method in the treatment of femoral shaft fractures in children.