Flexible intramedullary nails with traction versus plaster cast for treating femoral shaft fractures in children: comparative retrospective study / Hastes intramedulares flexíveis com tração versus aparelho gessado para o tratamento de fraturas diafisárias do fêmur em crianças: estudo comparativo retrospectivo

Femoral fractures are common in children between 2 and 12 years of age, and 75% of the lesions affect the femoral shaft. Traction followed by a plaster cast is universally accepted as conservative treatment. However, in some situations, a surgical approach is recommended. The objective here was to compare treatments for femoral shaft fractures using intramedullary nails (titanium elastic nails, TEN) versus traction and plaster casts in children. The hypothesis was that TEN might provide better treatment, with good clinical results in comparison with plaster casts.

This retrospective comparative study was conducted in a public university hospital.

Sixty children with femoral fractures were evaluated; 30 of them underwent surgical treatment with TEN and 30 were treated conservatively using plaster casts. The patients' ages ranged from 5 to 13 years (mean of 9 years).

The mean duration of hospitalization was nine days for the surgical group and 20 days for the conservative group. The incidence of overgrowth in the patients treated with TEN was 60.0% and, for those treated conservatively, 13.3%. Partial weight-bearing was allowed after 3.5 weeks in the surgical group and after 9.6 weeks in the conservative group. New hospitalization was required for 90.0% in the surgical group and 16.7% in the conservative group. Patients treated with plaster casts presented higher incidence of complications, such as loss of reduction.

The surgical method presented better results for children. .

Fraturas femorais são comuns em crianças entre 2 e 12 anos de idade, e 75% das lesões acometem a diáfise. Tração seguida de aparelho gessado (“gesso”) é universalmente aceita como tratamento conservador. Entretanto, em algumas situações o tratamento cirúrgico é recomendado. O objetivo foi comparar o tratamento de fraturas diafisárias do fêmur com hastes intramedulares (titanium elastic nails, TEN) com tração e gesso em crianças. A hipótese era de que TEN pode ser melhor tratamento, com bons resultados clínicos em comparação com o gesso.

Este estudo retrospectivo e comparativo foi conduzido num hospital público universitário.

Sessenta crianças com fraturas de fêmur foram avaliadas, 30 delas foram submetidas a tratamento cirúrgico com TEN e 30 foram tratadas de forma conservadora usando gesso. A idade dos pacientes variou de 5 a 13 anos (média de 9 anos).

O tempo médio de internação foi de 9 dias para o grupo cirúrgico e 20 dias para o grupo conservador. A incidência de crescimento excessivo nos pacientes tratados com TEN foi de 60,0% e, para aqueles tratados de forma conservadora, 13,3%. Sustentação parcial de peso foi permitida após 3,5 semanas no grupo cirúrgico e após 9,6 semanas no grupo conservador. Houve 90,0% de novas internações no grupo cirúrgico e 16,7% no grupo conservador. Pacientes tratados com gesso apresentaram maior incidência de complicações, tais como perda de redução.

Outcomes of long bone fractures treated by open intramedullary nailing at the St Ann's bay hospital, Jamaica / Resultados clínicos de las fracturas de huesos largos tratadas mediante enclavijado intramedular abierto en el hospital de Saint Ann's bay, Jamaica

Between May 2001 to August 2004, 35 patients had open nailing of long bones. There were 40 fractures fixed. Of these 40 fractures, there were 25 femoral fractures, 11 were tibial fractures and 4 were humeral fractures. There were 33 (82.5%) closed fractures and 7 (17.5%) open fractures. In the group of patients with open fractures, there were two Grade I, two Grade II and three Grade IIIB. Seven (20%) patients were lost to follow-up; all of whom had closed fractures. The final analysis as it relates to complications was done using 28 patients with 32 fractures. The majority of fractures healed without significant complication. All the patients with closed fractures went on to bony union. There was one non-union and three delayed unions. There were two infections (osteomyelitis) and this was from the open fracture cohort. This represents an infection rate of 28.6% in this cohort. Two (7.0%) patients had persistent pain and one (3.6%) patient had early removal of the nail because of failure of fixation. The mean time from injury to surgery for the fractured femur was 15.5 (range 0-49) days; fractured tibia 24.4 (range 0-40), days and fractured humerus 41.5 (20-81) days. The mean hospital stay was 18.9 (range 9-37) days for patients with fractured femur; for fractured tibia, it was 20.5 (range 3-82) days and for fractured humerus, it was 22.7 (range 3-82) days. The mean postoperative stay was 4.1 (range 1-14) days for fractured femur, 4.5 (range 1-14) days for fractured tibia and 4.0 (range 1-10) days for fractured humerus. The mean time to healing (consolidation) as defined by X-rays was 5.0 (range 3-11) months for fractured femur, 5.2 ( range 3-11) months for tibia and 7.0 (range 6- 8) months for fractured humerus.

Desde mayo de 2001 hasta agosto de 2004, 35 pacientes recibieron reducción de fracturas de huesos largos mediante enclavijado a cielo abierto. Se produjeron 40 fijaciones de fracturas. De estas 40 fracturas, 25 fracturas fueron del fémur, 11 fueron de la tibia, y 4 del húmero. Hubo 33 (82.5%) fracturas cerradas y 7 (17.5%) fracturas abiertas. En el grupo de pacientes con fracturas abiertas, hubo dos fracturas de grado I, dos de grado II y tres de grado IIIB. El análisis final en cuanto a las complicaciones, se realizó con 28 pacientes con 32 fracturas. La mayoría de las fracturas se curaron sin complicaciones significativas. Todos los pacientes con fracturas cerradas lograron finalmente la unión ósea. Hubo uno que no logró la unión y tres uniones retardadas. Se produjeron dos infecciones (osteomielitis), provenientes de la cohorte de fractura abierta. Esto representa una tasa de infección del 28.6% en dicha cohorte. Dos (7.0%) pacientes presentaban dolores persistentes, y a un (3.6%) paciente le fue retirado el clavo tempranamente debido a que la fijación falló. El tiempo promedio desde la lesión hasta la cirugía, fue de 15.5 días (rango 0-49) para la fractura del fémur; 24.4 días (rango 0-40) para la fractura de la tibia, y 41.5 días (20-81) para la fractura del húmero. La estancia promedio en el hospital fue de 18.9 días (rango 9-37) para los pacientes con el fémur fracturado; para la fractura de la tibia fue de 20.5 días (rango 3-82), y para el húmero fracturado fue 22.7 días (rango 3-82). La estadía postoperatoria promedio fue 4.1 días (rango 1-14) para el fémur fracturado, 4.5 días (rango 1-14) para la tibia fracturada, y 4.0 días (rango 1-10) días para los casos de fractura del húmero. El tiempo promedio de sanación (consolidación) tal como lo definieron los rayos X fue 5.0 meses (rango 3-11) para el fémur fracturado, 5.2 meses (rango 3-11) para la tibia y 7.0 meses (rango 6-8) para el húmero fracturado.