Efficacy of Single Titanium Elastic Nail in the Treatment of Child Femur Fractures

Background: Femoral shaft fractures in childhood constitute an important part of emergency visits to orthopedic clinics. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and reliability of a method in the treatment of simple fractures in the middle of the femoral diaphysis in patients with multiple injuries or in the treatment of cases with a medullary canal that is too narrow for two nails, with a single stretch nail thicker than half the diameter of the canal. Methods: Between July 2002 and November 2006, examinations were made of 11 femoral fractures in 11 patients who were admitted to the pediatric emergency department of Tepecik Training and Research Hospital with a diagnosis of femoral fracture and who were hospitalized and treated with a single flexible intramedullary titanium nail. Results: In the follow-up, no problem was found in terms of union and length difference in any of the cases, except for a 10º varus deformity present after surgery in one case. Conclusions: Elastic intramedullary nailing is an effective method in the treatment of simple femoral fractures in children. A single elastic nail provides adequate stability following open reduction with minimal incision in patients whose short operating time must be kept short such as those with head trauma, thoracic trauma, or intra-abdominal pathology, or patients with a narrow medullary canal where two flexible nails cannot pass. We think that it is a feasible method because it causes minimal soft tissue damage.