PREVOT NAILS, AN ELEGANT METHOD - EXPERIE NCE WITH 38 CASES

Endomedullar elastic stabilization with titanium Prevot nails is an ex cellent method of treating long-bone fractures in children. Without to uching the epiphyseal line, this method guarantees early functional fo llow-up treatment with minimal operative trauma. For this reason, this method can compete successfully with common methods like extension tr eatment, external fixation and osteosynthesis with plates. From Octobe r 1990 to October 1993 we treated more than 40 fractures with Prevot n ails and checked 38 of them clinically and radiologically. All 17 femu r fractures healed correctly from an anatomical point of view and with out rotation defects. In 4 patients we found a maximum difference in l ength of 1 cm in favor of the operated side. All of the 11 forearm fra cture had good results, but there were 2 poor results with delayed uni on (adult patients) in the 6 humerus fractures operated upon. The rema ining 4 cases, had to do with exceptional indications like lower leg f ractures, combined humerus and forearm diaphyseal fractures, and metac arpal diaphyseal fractures. Our first experience with this method is g ood. The duration of hospitalization is short and early functional fol low-up treatment for pediatric diaphyseal fractures is in general prac ticable. This procedure for operative care of femur and forearm diaphy seal fractures has now become the standard therapy in our clinic.