Primary hip spica with crossed retrograde intramedullary rush pins for the management of diaphyseal femur fractures in children: A prospective, randomized study

BACKGROUND: Femoral fractures are common in children aged between 2 and 12 yearsand 75% of the lesions affect the femoral shaft. Traction followed by a plaster cast is universally accepted as a conservative treatment. We compared primary hip spica or traction followed by hip spica with closed reduction and fixation with retrogradely passed crossed Rush pins for diaphyseal femur fracture in 25 children of the age group 3-12 years, randomly distributed in each group. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty children (age: 3-13 years, mean; 9 years) with femoral fractures were evaluated; 25 of them underwent the conservative treatment using immediate hip spica (group A) and 25 underwent treatment with crossed retrograde Rush pins (group B). RESULTS: Mean duration of fracture union was within 15 weeks in group A and 12 weeks in group B. Mean duration of weight bearing was 14weeks in group A and 7 weeks in group A. Mean hospital stay were 4 days in group A and 8days in group B. The man follow-up period was 16 months in group A and 17 months in group B. Complications like angulation, shortening and infection were compared. Bursitis and penetration of pins at the site of Rush pin insertion is a complication associated with this method of treatment. CONCLUSION: Closed reduction and internal fixation with crossed Rush pins was a superior treatment method in terms of early weight bearing and restoration of normal anatomy.