Treatment of Length-Unstable Pediatric Femur Fractures in Children Aged 5 to 11 years: A Focused Review.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
5-1-2024
Abstract
Pediatric femur fractures in children aged 5 to 11 years are typically classified as length-stable versus length-unstable. For length-stable fracture patterns, there is frequent consensus among pediatric orthopaedic specialists regarding the appropriateness of flexible intramedullary nails, submuscular plates (SMP), or lateral-entry rigid intramedullary nails (LE-RIMN). With length-unstable fracture patterns, however, the decision is more complex. Age, weight, fracture pattern, fracture location, surgical technique, surgeon experience, several implant-specific details, and additional factors are all important when choosing between flexible intramedullary nail, SMP, and LE-RIMN. These familiar methods of fixation may all be supported by conflicting and sometimes heterogeneous data. When planning to treat length-unstable fractures in young children, surgeons should understand evidence-based details associated with each implant and how each patient-specific scenario affects perioperative decisions.
Publication Title
The Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
Volume
32
Issue
9
First Page
373
Last Page
380
Recommended Citation
Greenhill, D., Riccio, A., & Herman, M. (2024). Treatment of Length-Unstable Pediatric Femur Fractures in Children Aged 5 to 11 years: A Focused Review.. The Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 32 (9), 373-380. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.5435/jaaos-d-23-00995