Functional outcome of elastic intramedullary nailing
for femoral shaft fractures in children
Hamid Ahmed Mahmood1,2* & Sarkan Ahmed Abdulqader2
Abstract
References
1 Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Sulaimani, Sulaimani, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
2 Department of Orthopedics, Shar Hospital, Sulaimaniyah, Republic of Iraq
*Correspondence author Email: hamed.mahmood@univsul.edu.iq
Abstract
Background: Pediatric femoral shaft fracture is the most frequent fracture type in
orthopedic practice in which males are affected more commonly than females. Currently,
intramedullary fixation for the managing of femoral shaft fracture in children is widely
used worldwide, including Iraq, which overcomes most of the difficulties related to other
treatment modalities. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the clinical, functional,
and radiological consequences of pediatric femoral shaft fractures achieved with a titanium
elastic nail system (TENS). Materials & Methods: In this study, 28 children aged 5-10
years with femoral shaft fracture admitted to Shar Hospital, Sulaimaniyah, Republic of
Iraq, were enrolled. Their fractures were fixed with Titanium Elastic Nail (TEN), in which
a pair of the same-sized nail was used for each fracture. The outcomes were assessed using
Flynn’s scoring criteria. Finally, the patients were discharged the next day and followed
up after 2, 4, 8, 12 and 20 weeks of surgery. Results: Based on Flynn’s score assessment,
the outcome of 85.71% of patients were excellent, 12.5% were satisfactory, and 1.79%
were poor. All patients were showed a radiological unification and a conceivable full
weight-bearing in a mean time of ~ 9 weeks, while their full knee variety of movement
was attained in 2 months. Conclusions: TENS is a potential means to treat femoral shaft
fractures in children as it is a simple, safe, minimally invasive, and physeal-protective with
fewer complications and a high rate of good and excellent outcomes.
Key Words:
Femoral shaft fracture,
pediatric cases, titanium
elastic nailing system,
manageable outcomes
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