Results of the treatment of the open femoral shaft fractures in children.

Abstract

Intramedullary nailing has become the treatment of choice for closed femoral shaft fractures in children and adolescents. Immediate intramedullary nailing of open fractures of femur in children remains controversial, with most surgeons preferring to treat grade II or III open fractures either by debridement and traction or external fixation. The aim of this study is to evaluate the results of intramedullary nailing of open femoral fractures in children. 172 children were treated for femoral shaft fracture in our department. 19 fractures were opened in 18 patients. In children with polytrauma, multiple fractures, head injuries and other conditions which necessitate intensive nursing care, intramedullary nailing of opens femoral shaft fractures (type I, II, IIIA, IIIB) should be preferred. Satisfactory results were obtained in all patients in terms of self evaluation of patients, radiological and clinical evaluation. The infection rate was much lower for patients who had been given a cephalosporin than for patient who had been given a penicillin or had been given no antibiotic.