Use of external fixator versus flexible intramedullary nailing in closed pediatric femur fractures: comparing results using data from two cohort studies

Objective: To study the early outcomes and complications of fixation of pediatric shaft of femur fractures using flexible intramedullary nail. Study Design: Prospective observational study. Place and Duration of Study: Orthopedic Department, Bahawal Victoria Hospital Bahawalpur, from Jan to Jun 2021. Methodology: Children between the ages of 5-11 years with shaft of femur fractures were included in the study. Fixation of fracture was done using elastic intramedullary nail. Final outcomes of fixation were observed using Flynn and Schwend Scoring System. Six-month follow-up was done in all cases. Data was analyzed using SPSS-20. Results: Total 70 cases having shaft of femur fracture were included in the study. Age range of cases was 5-11 years with mean age of 7.75 ± 1.66 years and mean weight of 24.44 ± 4.77 kilograms. Mean diameter of femur medullary canal was 7.48 ± 0.63 millimeters and mean diameter of flexible nail was 3.03 ± 0.26 millimeters. Mean post-operative period of radiological union of fracture was 8.57 ± 1.05 weeks. Per-operatively, fracture site was approached in 4 (5.7%) cases. Migration of nail was not seen in any case. Final outcomes according to Flynn and Shwend Score were excellent in 62 (88.5%), satisfactory in 7 (10%) and poor in 1 (1.4%) case. Conclusion: Fixation of shaft of femur fracture using flexible intramedullary nailing technique is safe and reliable with good outcomes among children between 5-11 years of age.

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Comparison of Clinical Outcomes of Flexible Intramedullary Nailing (FIN) with External Fixation in Pediatric Open Tibial Fractures

10.53350/pjmhs2115113455 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 15 (11) ◽

pp. 3455-3457

Author(s):

Malik M. Yasin Awan ◽

Mudassar Nazar ◽

Abdul Qayyum Baig ◽

Rizwan Anwar ◽

Muhammad Abdul Hanan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Clinical Outcome ◽

External Fixation ◽

Intramedullary Nailing ◽

External Fixator ◽

Group Versus ◽

Tibial Fractures ◽

P Value ◽

Fracture Rate ◽

Open Tibial Fractures ◽

Flexible Intramedullary Nailing

Objective: To compare the clinical outcome of flexible intramedullary nailing (FIN) with external fixator in pediatric open tibial fractures. Subjects and Methods: In this randomized comparative study, 80 children having age 5 year to 14 years who presented with open tibial fractures were included. The study was conducted from June-2020 to June-2021 in Islam Hospital Sialkot and Allama Iqbal Memorial Hospital Sialkot. Patients were divided into two equal groups. Group A: underwent external fixation and group B: underwent flexible intramedullary nailing for the surgical management of tibial fractures. Frequency of infections surrounding pins, painful bursitis and re fracture rate within 3 months after surgery was recorded. Results: The mean age of children was 8.42±3.82 years in external fixator group versus 8.40±4.0 years in FIN group (p-value 0.97). Infection-surrounding pins occurred in 9 (22.5%) children were belonging to external fixator group and 01 (2.5%) children was belonging to FIN group (p-value 0.007). Refracture occurred in 6 (15.0%) patients in external fixator group and in no (0.0%) children in FIN group (p-value 0.01). Painful bursitis occurred 2 (5.0%) patient was in external fixator group and in 13 (32.5%) in FIN group (p-value 0.002). Conclusion: Clinical outcome is better in patients treated with FIN as compared to the external fixator for the treatment of pediatric open tibial shaft fractures. Keywords: Flexible intramedullary nails, External fixator, Tibial fractures.

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