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Pediatric Femur Fractures May Be Managed with Locked Plate Fixation if Other Options Not Viable
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Posted on: 01/10/2008
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Fractures of the femur (thigh bone) in children may be difficult to repair surgically, depending on the fracture. One procedure, the locked plate fixation has been used with adults, but there is little in the literature indicating its use in children. The authors of this study studied the effectiveness of the procedure in 32 patients who had sustained femur fractures.
The patients, average age 11 years old, had broken their femur and had been treated with the locked plate fixation. The researchers examined their records, including the x-ray before surgery, to examine the fracture patterns and the bone growth after surgery. Records of the follow-up included the patients' ability to bear weight, the union of the bone, and the presence of any complications.
The researchers found that all except one patient had optimal bone realignment. Seven patients had the implant from the surgery removed between eight and 13 months after surgery, due to surgeon preference, but no complications were noted. There were no complications among all patients during surgery, nor did any of the implants fail, requiring revision surgery.
In conclusion, the authors of the article point out that the surgery is not a first-choice treatment but may be used if there is no other viable option. It results in fracture stability, minimizes soft-tissue damage, and provides good clinical outcomes.
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References:
Daniel Hedequist, MD, Julius Bishop, MD, and Timothy Hresko, MD. Locking Plate Fixation for Pediatric Femur Fractures. In Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics. January/February 2008. Vol. 28. No. 1. Pp. 6-9.
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