CLOSED ENDER NAILING OF ADOLESCENT FEMORAL-SHAFT FRACTURES

Twenty-seven adolescents with 29 femoral shaft fractures, between the ages of 10 and 16 years, were treated with closed flexible Ender intra medullary nailing from 1989 to 1992 in our clinic. In one patient who had a fracture of the distal third of the femoral shaft, the nail was inserted proximal to distal (antegrade nailing). In the other patients , the nails were inserted distal to proximal (retrograde nailing). Cli nical and radiological follow up averaged 32 months (18-56 months). Ho spitalization averaged 15 days (7-28 days). All fractures healed with one significant leg length discrepancy of 1.7 cm in a patient who had developed osteomyelitis. There was no significant angulation or malrot ation, All patients had a normal gait and were able to participate in full activities. There was one deep wound infection in a patient with an open fracture of the femoral shaft, There were no non-unions, delay ed-unions or psychological complications. For this age group, this tre atment of femoral shaft fracture should be considered owing to the fun ctional recovery with low morbidity and cost, providing early ambulati on, early discharge from hospital and early return to school.