DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2020.v08i01.021

Pages: 109-113

Introduction: Femoral shaft fractures are most common fractures in paediatric age group having different options to treat them. Elastic stable intramedullary nailing is one for treating these fractures and has a reliable methodology. Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the short term clinical, functional and radiological outcome of intramedullary fixation of displaced femoral shaft fractures in skeletally immature children using titanium elastic nails. Material and Methods: 36 femoral shaft fractures in 36 children aged 6-14 years were fixed with titanium intramedullary elastic nail between July 2017 and December 2018 in the department of Orthopaedics, Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital, Bogura, and in some private hospitals in Bogura, Bangladesh. Two nails of proper and equal diameter were used for fracture fixation. No external splint was used after surgery. Outcomes assessed on the basis of Flynn et al. scoring criterion. Results: All patients achieved complete healing at a mean of 9.1 (Range 8- 10) weeks. 31 fractures were reduced by closed means but 5 needed open reduction. No major complication was recorded. Most common minor complication was entry site skin irritation recorded in 4 patients. 86% had excellent result and 14% had satisfactory. Conclusion: Elastic stable intramedullary nailing is the method of choice for the femoral shaft fractures in paediatric patients, because it is minimally invasive and shows very good functional and cosmetic result. It allows early ambulation and shorter hospital stay and higher parent satisfaction. It also provides flexural, translational and rotational stability as well.