Suitability of skin traction combined with braces for treating femoral shaft fractures in 3–5 years old children

Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research

Research Article

Menglei Wang¹  Yuxi Su¹ 

[1] Department of Orthopedics, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders; National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders; China International Science and Technology Cooperation base of Child development and Critical Disorders, Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, 136# Zhongshan 2 Road, Yuzhong District, 400014, Chongqing, China;

关键词: Skin traction;    Braces;    Femoral shaft fractures;    Children;    Preschool;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s13018-023-03547-5

 received in 2022-10-24, accepted in 2023-01-16,  发布年份 2023

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundIn children aged 3–5 years, femoral fractures are common and are frequently treated using flexible intramedullary nails (FIN) or spica casting. Recently, more surgeons have been relying on FIN surgery because of the high rate of complications associated with spica casts, such as skin irritation and re-adjustment surgery. We aimed to evaluate the effect of skin traction combined with braces in 3–5 years old children at our hospital.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed 125 children aged 3–5 years with femoral shaft fractures treated at our hospital between January 2010 and December 2020. We assigned 68 patients who underwent FIN surgery to Group A and 57 patients treated with skin traction and braces to Group B. Comparative analysis included the children’s age, sex, side of the affected limb, cause of fracture, function of the knee joint, healing time of the fracture, duration of hospitalization, cost of hospitalization, and complications. The complications evaluated included joint dysfunction, pain, infection, pressure ulcers, angular deformities, limb length differences, re-fractures, nonunion fractures, and delayed union.ResultsThere were significant differences in and hospital costs (p = 0.001). Conversely, no statistically significant differences were observed in sex (p = 0.858), injury type (p = 0.804), age (p = 0.231), hospitalization time (p = 0.071), bone healing time (p = 0.212), and complications. Pressure ulcers, nonunion fractures, and delayed union did not occur in both groups.ConclusionBoth methods had similar therapeutic effects and postoperative complications in children aged 3–5 years with femoral shaft fractures. Therefore, skin traction combined with braces is recommended for this population and for patients hospitalized in institutions where several beds are available, with a consequent possibility of prolonged hospitalization.Level of Evidence: IV.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s) 2023

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