ABSTRACT

Objective: To examine the functional outcome of intramedullary fixation with titanium elastic nails in diaphyseal fractures of femur in children.

Study Design: Retrospective/Observational study.

Place and Duration of Study:Pir Abdul Qadir Shah Jilani Institute of Medical Sciences, Gambatfrom 1^st April 2017 to 30^th September 2018.

Materials and Methods:Atotalof 16 patients of both genders presented with diaphyseal femur fractures were included. Patient’s ages were ranging from 5 to 15 years. Surgery was carried out within 3 days of admission by a qualified orthopaedic surgeon. Nail size was decided per-operatively according to Flynn’s Formula (Nail Diameter= 80% of cavity diameter/2. Post-operative back-slab was applied for 3 to 4 weeks. Patients were discharged on second post-operative day and followed up at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 12 weeks and 24 weeks after surgery.

Results: Thirteen patients had excellent outcome and 3 patients had satisfactory result. No patient in our experience showed poor outcome. The mean time for full weight bearing was 6.9 week. Hospital stay was a mean of 05 days. Only 01patient had superficial infection which subsided with appropriate antibiotics.

Conclusion: TENS is an ideal device to treat pediatric femoral shaft fractures TENS is a simple, safe, minimal invasive technique with fewer complications.