DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2016.v04i04.039

Pages: 1307-1309

Despite several potential complications of elastic intramedullary nailing, it is currently the treatment of choice for femoral diaphyseal fractures in school aged children. The present study aimed to critically evaluate the complications of elastic nailing in femoral shaft fractures of children of age below 12 years. 25 patients up to 12 years of age with a fracture of the diaphysis of femur who had been treated with the intramedullary elastic nails admitted in Adesh Institute of Medical Sciences And Research Bathinda were studied from July 2012 to June 2014. All had been followed up until the fracture had healed or the nails removed. A performa was completed for each patient using information from the central registration records, and by reviewing imaging studies. The complication rate was 32%, and the two main complications were nail prominence caused by long unbent distal ends of nails at the insertion site and fracture instability after surgery. Nail ends should be palpated to exclude nail prominence and to verify free movement of the knee after nail cutting and bending. Fracture instability was caused by inserting elastic nails that were too narrow. To avoid this complication, careful preoperative planning to select the proper-size elastic nails and intraoperative testing of fracture stability under continuous fluoroscopy after the operation is advised.