Several methods have been used for the treatment of pediatric distal femoral fractures, such as elastic stable intramedullary nail (ESIN), external fixator (EF) and plate osteosynthesis, but there has been no consensus about the optimal method. The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical outcome between EF and ESIN techniques used in metaphyseal-diaphyseal junction (MDJ) fractures of the pediatric distal femur.

We retrospectively analyzed operatively treated MDJ fractures of pediatric distal femur between January 2015 and January 2022. Patient charts were reviewed for demographics, injury and data of radiography. All of the patients were divided into EF and ESIN groups according to the operation techniques. Malalignment was defined as more than 5 degrees of angular deformity in either plane. Clinical outcomes were measured by Flynn scoring system.

Thirty-eight patients were included in this study, among which, 23 were treated with EF, and 15 with ESIN. The mean follow-up time was 18 months (12-24 months). At the final follow-up, all of the fractures were healed. Although there were no statistical differences between the two groups in demographic data, length of stay, estimated blood loss (EBL), rate of open reduction, time to fracture healing and Flynn score, the EF was superior to ESIN in operative time, fluoroscopic exposure and time to partial weight-bearing. The EF group had a significantly higher rate of skin irritation, while the ESIN had a significantly higher rate of malalignment.

EF and ESIN are both effective methods in the treatment of MDJ fractures of the pediatric distal femur. ESIN is associated with lower rates of skin irritation. However, EF technique has the advantages of shorter operative time, reduced fluoroscopic exposure, and shorter time to partial weight-bearing, as well as lower incidence of malalignment.

Level III.

The management of adolescent femur fractures continues to evolve and remains controversial. Currently, operative fixation methods are favoured, offering options such as external fixator, flexible and locked intramedullary nailing, compression and locked plating. Our study aims to introduce a novel approach for treating adolescent femoral shaft fractures by combining an external fixator with an elastic stable intramedullary nail.

We included 32 patients aged 11-16 years with femoral shaft fractures treated using an external fixator augmented elastic intramedullary nail at our institution from August 2015 to January 2019.

All patients achieved bony union. We analysed patient's results both clinically and radiologically. On average, the surgery took 77.34 minutes to complete with an average time to union of 13.9 weeks. External fixator and elastic nail removal took an average of 3.59 months and 26.5 months, respectively. At the final follow-up, knee range of motion averaged 131.88 degrees. According to the Flynn criteria, functional outcomes were excellent in 18 patients, satisfactory in 11 patients and poor in 3 patients. Pin site infection occurred in 3 patients, malunion in 4 patients, limb length shortening < 1 cm in 3 patients, distal nail tip prominence and knee stiffness in 3 patients.

The management of femur fractures in adolescents using an elastic nail augmented with an external fixator is a minimally invasive procedure that provide secure fracture stabilization and predictable outcomes.

Acute Monteggia fracture (AMF) is defined as a fracture of the proximal ulna combined with a dislocation of the radial head, with less than 1 percent prevalence in pediatric patients with an elbow injury. This retrospective study aimed to compare the efficacy of two treatment methods for oblique ulnar fracture AMF Bado type I in children.

In this retrospective study, 28 children with oblique ulnar fracture acute Monteggia injury Bado I were included. Patients was divided into two groups: In the EIN group 16 patients were fixed with elastic intramedullary nail after reduction, and in the LCP group 12 patients were fixed with locking compression plate after reduction. Operation time and blood loss were recorded and the patients were assessed clinically by the Mayo Elbow Performance Score (MEPS), range of movement(ROM) and range of rotation(ROR).

Twenty-eight patients were accessible for durable follow-up, with a mean age of 7.7 ± 1.3 years, follow up by 33.7 ± 5.1 months. The average operation time was 48.1 ± 9.2 min for the EIN group and 67.1 ± 7.2 min for the LCP group. The average blood loss was 8.2 ± 2.3 ml for the EIN group and 18.8 ± 3.8 ml for the LCP group. The average operation time and average blood loss in the EIN group are significant less than the LCP group. Mean MEPS, ROM, ROR in both group improved significantly before sugery to three months after surgery, and maintained very good results at last follow up. There is no significant difference between the EIN group and the LCP group in MEPS, ROM and ROR.

Oblique ulnar fracture Bado type I acute monteggia fracture in pediatric patients fixed by EIN and LCP can both get good mid-term results measured by MEPS, ROM and ROR, Fixed by EIN have shorter operation time and less blood loss than fixed by LCP.

 Diaphyseal femur fractures are commonly seen in the paediatric age group as there is an increase in the incidence of road traffic accidents. Titanium elastic nailing system (TENS) and plating are the common methods used for paediatric long bone fracture fixation. The purpose of our study was to evaluate and compare functional and radiological outcomes of paediatric femur diaphyseal fractures treated with locking compression plates and with TENS.

 Our study included 59 patients diagnosed with femur shaft fracture. Twenty-eight patients included in group one underwent open reduction and internal fixation with locking compression plates and 31 patients in group two underwent open reduction/closed reduction with intramedullary TENS. All post-operation patients were evaluated at four, eight, 10, 12, 16, 20, 24, and 36 weeks. The functional outcome was assessed based on the Flynn scoring system and radiological union based on fracture union on X-ray.

We analyzed our data using the Flynn scoring system. In group one, out of 28 cases treated with locking compression plates, 25 (89%) were excellent, two (7.5%) were satisfactory, and one (3.5%) was poor. In group two, out of 31 cases treated with intramedullary TENS, 26 (83.8%) were excellent and five (16.2%) were satisfactory. In our study, the average union time in group one was 11.4 weeks and in group two was 14.41 weeks. Fracture union was 100% in both groups.

In our study, we noted that the union of the femur shaft was early with the use of locking compression plates. In TENS, there was less intraoperative blood loss, very minimal postoperative scar, and less soft tissue damage. Also, implant removal was easier compared to locking compression plates.

Limb lengthening techniques play an increasingly important role in the pediatric orthopedic field. The principles of the osteogenesis distraction bonded traditionally with external fixators; however, the recent deployment of fully implantable systems has been able to overcome severities related to external fixators. The PRECICE® is an implantable limb lengthening intramedullary nail system that is remotely controlled and magnetically driven.

To review the current literature available on this matter in order to assess the PRECICE clinical and radiological outcomes and its possible complications in a population of pediatric patients undergoing limb lengthening.

Only five studies met the inclusion criteria and were consequently included in the review for a total of 131 patients and 135 femurs. The clinical and radiological outcomes of interest were: the main lengthening obtained, the distraction rate, the period of time to full weight bearing, the consolidation index, and the Association for the Study and Application of Methods of Ilizarov score.

In conclusion, data collected from the articles under investigation were comparable with the exception of the consolidation index. Unfortunately, the study population was too small and the patients' follow-up was too short to make definitive conclusions.

This review shows that the PRECICE Nail System is still a therapeutic challenge in limb lengthening for pediatric orthopedic surgeons; however, careful pre-operative planning and an accurate surgical technique could allow the correction of more complex deformities with a low rate of complications.

Locking plate (LP) is a good choice in the treatment of length-unstable femoral shaft fracture in children. Monolateral external fixator (EF) has been reported for this condition for decades. This study aims to compare the clinical outcomes of school-aged children with length-unstable femoral shaft fracture treated with LP vs. EF.

Patients aged 5-11 years old with length-unstable femoral shaft fractures treated at our institute from January 2014 to January 2018 were retrospectively reviewed and categorized into LP and EF groups. The preoperative data, including baseline information of the patients, radiographic parameters, and types of surgical procedure, were collected from the hospital database, and postoperative data, including complications, were collected during the follow-up visits.

Overall, 36 patients (average, 8.2 ± 2.1 years; male, 20; female, 16) in the LP group and 35 patients (average, 8.3 ± 2.3 years; male 20, female 15) in the EF group were included. There was significantly less operative time for EF (45.4 ± 7.8 min) compared with LP (67.8 ± 11.3 min) (P < 0.001). As for the frequency of fluoroscopy, there was a significant difference between the EF (13.9 ± 2.4) and LP (16.5 ± 3.2) groups (p < 0.001). The rate of major complications was not significantly different between these two groups. There was a significant difference between the EF group (11.2 ± 5.8 mm) and the LP group (7.5 ± 1.6 mm) group concerning limb length discrepancy (P < 0.001).

Both LP and EF produce satisfactory outcomes in school-aged children with length unstable femoral shaft fractures. External fixation remains a viable choice without the necessity of secondary surgery for hardware removal.

Flexible intramedullary nailing (FIN) has become the standard treatment for pediatric femoral fractures in the 6-14 years age group. The other treatment options include traction plus spica casting and external fixation. In spite of excellent results described, there is disunity in the orthopedic fraternity regarding its usefulness and nail material. The aim of our study is to determine the outcome of pediatric femur fractures treated with Stainless steel FIN.

Between 2014 to 2018, 45 children within the age group of 6-12 years with femoral shaft fractures were included in the study. Two Stainless steel nails of predetermined size were inserted in a retrograde fashion under fluoroscopy. Patients were followed up at regular intervals to assess clinical and radiological parameters. Final results were evaluated using Flynn's clinical criteria.

There were 29 boys and 16 girls with an average age of 10.2 years. Fracture patterns included transverse (n=8), oblique (n=20), spiral (n=12) and comminuted (n=5). Open injuries were present in two cases and five patients had associated injuries. The mean injury to surgery interval was 2.9 days, mean hospital stay was 4.8 days and mean time to union was nine weeks. Complications included deep infection with delayed union in one case, superficial infection in two cases, malunion in three cases, limb length discrepancy of >10 mm in one patient and skin irritation from prominent nail tips in five patients. Results were excellent in 36 patients, satisfactory in eight patients and poor in one patient.

FIN is safe, reliable and efficacious method of fixation because of its simplicity, minimal invasiveness, ease of insertion and removal with better cosmesis, rapid union with short rehabilitation, less psychosocial stress to the patient and family.