Skin traction in hip spica casting for femoral fractures in children

Background The purpose of this study was to evaluate the skin traction in hip spica casting when applied as the standard treatment for children with femoral shaft fractures. Methods A total of 207 patients with femoral fractures were treated with this method. The average age was 4.7 years. After the application of skin traction, the fracture of the femur was reduced and was placed in a hip spica cast. Traction was continued in the cast. Results All fractures united within 4–8 weeks. No significant residual angular deformities were seen in any of the children. The only complication was refracture in two children who fell after removal of the cast. None of the children required external shoe lifts, epiphysiodesis, antibiotics, irrigation, or débridement. Conclusions Skin traction and a well-molded hip spica cast is a safe, reliable treatment option for isolated, closed femoral fractures in children 2–7 years of age.     

Traction and spica casting for closed femoral shaft fractures in children

PURPOSE: To evaluate the treatment outcome of skin traction followed by spica casting for closed femoral shaft fractures in children. METHODS: Between September 1997 and December 2001 inclusive, outcomes of 63 children aged one month to 15 (mean, 5.3) years with closed femoral shaft fractures managed with skin traction and spica casting were reviewed. Depending on age, patients were kept in traction from 2 to 15 (median, 9) days, then in spica casts for 2 to 8 (median, 5) weeks. RESULTS: Bony union took 3 to 12 (median, 6) weeks. There were no malunion, nonunion, or rotational deformities. Nor were there any significant limb length discrepancies, pressure sores, or nerve palsies. On no occasion was a spica cast removed and reapplied for loss of fracture reduction. At final follow-up, limb length discrepancy was noted in 14 (22%) of the patients, but none had a discrepancy of greater than 1.5 cm or a short-legged gait. CONCLUSION: Skin traction followed by spica casting for closed femoral shaft fractures in children is safe, cost-effective and associated with a low complication rate. It is effective in children below 5 years of age and no less effective in older children, except in instances of open fracture, multiple fractures, or older children with large statures, which conditions render them intolerant to spica casts.     

Treatment of diaphyseal femoral fractures in children: a clinical study

Many therapeutic modalities have been reported for the management of femoral shaft fractures in children and young adolescents but there is no consensus on the preferable method. PURPOSE: To compare the malunion rate of femoral shaft fractures in children treated either by traction and spica cast or traction and functional brace. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between 1982 and 1984 a prospective study was carried out in a tertiary pediatric university hospital on 43 patients (24 boys, 19 girls) with a closed femoral shaft fracture. The patient's age ranged from 5 to 13 years old. Open, pathologic, subtrochanteric and physeal fractures were excluded. Fifteen (15) patients were treated by a functional brace and 28 were treated by a spica cast. Clinical and radiological assessments of all patients were performed 5 years or more after the fracture by an independent observer. A malunion occurred if one of these criteria were met: an angulation > or = 10 degrees in the coronal plane, an angulation > or = 15 degrees in the sagittal plane, a malrotation > or = 15 degrees by opposition to the other leg, and a discrepancy > or = 10 mm between femur's length. RESULTS: A malunion was found in 17 patients, 6 in the functional brace and 11 in the spica cast group (p > 0.05). The leg length discrepancy was the most common type of malunion. The length of stay was not significantly different between both treatment groups. The functional brace was worn longer than the spica cast. CONCLUSION: There was no statistical difference between the malunion rate of children treated by traction-spica cast and traction-functional brace. The functional brace appears to be a good alternative for the treatment for femoral shaft fracture in children allowing an earlier ambulation than spica cast.     

Ipsilateral fracture of the femur and tibia treated in a quadrilateral cast brace.

In 15 patients traction followed by cast brace was an acceptable method of treatment for ipsilateral fractures of the tibia and femur. Prolonged healing times and limited range of motion of the knee were not significant problems. This method of treatment is especially indicated in patients with severe open injuries or comminution of femoral shaft fractures which do not safely lend themselves to rigid internal fixation. The hospitalization time, 5 weeks, is considerably less than for spica cast treatment of femoral shaft fractures and is comparable to that reported for open reduction and rigid fixation of femoral shaft fractures.     

Early casting of femoral shaft fractures in children

Twenty-six children with fractures of the femur were entered into a prospective study to determine the efficacy of treating certain of these fractures by early spica cast immobilization. They were compared with 50 consecutive patients with similar fractures who were treated prior to the study to determine the potential cost savings and decrease in patient days in hospital. The clinical results of treatment were compared with results from the literature and the previous group where applicable. Our conclusion from this study is that most femoral shaft fractures in children under 10 years of age can be treated by closed reduction and early spica cast immobilization with results that are at least as good as those achieved by conventional methods, and with a 70% savings in hospital cost. Factors such as obesity, swelling, shortening, comminution, and fracture type can all combine to give relative contraindications for the use of this technique.     

Comparison of Pavlik harness application and immediate spica casting for femur fractures in infants

This retrospective study compares Pavlik harness application versus spica casting for the treatment of children under 1 year of age with a femoral shaft fracture. The clinical and radiographic outcomes of 24 patients treated in a Pavlik harness were compared with 16 patients treated in a spica cast. The average age and weight of the two groups were significantly different, but there were no differences in radiographic outcomes between the Pavlik and spica cast groups. Approximately one third of all spica patients had a skin complication that added an additional risk to the patient. There were no similar complications in the Pavlik group. There were no differences in the outcome of the fractures in the two groups. The authors believe that all children under 1 year of age with a femoral shaft fracture are candidates for treatment with a Pavlik harness.     

Comparison of titanium elastic nails with traction and a spica cast to treat femoral fractures in children

BACKGROUND: Titanium elastic nails are commonly used to stabilize femoral fractures in school-aged children, but there have been few studies assessing the risks and benefits of this procedure compared with those of traditional traction and application of a spica cast. This prospective cohort study was designed to evaluate these two methods of treatment, with a specific focus on the first year after injury, the period when the treatment method should have the greatest impact. METHODS: Eighty-three consecutive children, six to sixteen years of age, were studied prospectively. Factors that were analyzed included clinical and radiographic data, complications, hospital charges, and outcome data. Outcome and recovery were assessed both with the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Pediatric Outcomes Data Collections Instrument, version 2.0, and according to a series of important recovery milestones including the time to walking with aids, time to independent walking, time absent from school, and time until full activity was allowed. RESULTS: Thirty-five children (thirty-five fractures), with a mean age of 8.7 years, were treated with traction and application of a spica cast, and forty-eight children (forty-nine fractures), with a mean age of 10.2 years, were treated with titanium elastic nails. All fractures healed, and no child sustained a complication that was expected to cause permanent disability. At one year after the fracture, eighty of the children had acceptable alignment and no inequality between the lengths of the lower extremities. The remaining three children, who had an unsatisfactory result, had been treated with traction and a spica cast. Twelve patients (34%) treated with traction and a cast had a complication compared with ten patients (21%) treated with titanium elastic nails. Compared with the children treated with traction and a cast, those treated with titanium elastic nails had shorter hospitalization, walked with support sooner, walked independently sooner, and returned to school earlier. These differences were significant (p < 0.0001). We could detect no difference in total hospital charges between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this prospective study support the recent empiric observations and published results of retrospective series indicating that a child in whom a femoral fracture is treated with titanium elastic nails achieves recovery milestones significantly faster than a child treated with traction and a spica cast. Hospital charges for the two treatment methods are similar. The complication rate associated with nailing compares favorably with that associated with traction and application of a spica cast.     

Three-point fixation walking spica cast: an alternative to early or immediate casting of femoral shaft fractures in children

A retrospective review of 28 children treated for middle and proximal femoral shaft fractures was undertaken. Following preliminary traction, a modified pantaloon walking spica, utilizing the principle of total contact and three-point fixation molding, was applied, followed by immediate ambulation. The mean anterior bow was 5 degrees varus/valgus, 6.5 degrees angulation, and 1.2 cm shortening. There were no significant differences in the results when age groups or proximal to mid-shaft fractures were compared. No further shortening or angulation occurred with ambulation. The advantages of early ambulation and better control of proximal shaft fractures are discussed.     

Pediatric femoral shaft fractures treated by flexible intramedullary nailing

Background: Nowadays pediatric femoral fractures are more commonly managed with operative treatment rather than conservative treatment because of more rapid recovery and avoidance of prolonged immobilization. Children between the ages of 5e13 years are treated either by traction plus hip spica and flexible/elastic stable retrograde intramedullary nail, or external fixators in the case of open fractures. The aim of this study is to evaluate the outcome of pediatric femoral shaft fractures treated by stainless steel flexible intramedullary nail in children between 5 and 13 years of age. Methods: There were 32 cases of femoral shaft fractures which were all fixed with stainless steel flexible intramedullary nail under fluoroscopy. Long leg cast was applied at the time of fixation. Partial weight bearing was started 2 weeks after surgery. Patients were evaluated in follow-up study to observe the alignment of fracture, infection, delayed union, nonunion, limb length discrepancy, motion of knee joint, and time to unite the fracture. Results: We were able to follow up 28 out of 32 patients. The patients were 8.14 years of age on average. The mean hospital stay after operation was 4 days and fracture union time was 9.57 weeks. There were 3 cases of varus angulation, 2 cases of anterior angulation, and 4 cases of limb lengthening. Conclusion: Patients aged between 5 and 13 years treated with flexible intramedullary nail for closed femoral shaft fracture have rapid union and recovery, short rehabilitation period, less immobilization and psychological impact, and cost-effective.     

Femoral fractures in children from 4 years to 10 years: conservative treatment

Some authors have widened the indications for surgical management of isolated femoral shaft fractures in children between 4 years and 10 years of age. We address this study to evaluate the results of such femoral fractures treated conservatively in 41 children. All fractures were closed, isolated, and diaphyseal. The mean age was 6.5 years (standard deviation, 1.7 years) and the mean follow-up was 2.3 years (standard deviation, 1.7 years). All fractures were managed conservatively with skin traction (mean hospitalization time, 20.7 days), alignment of the fragments was serially followed by X-ray, and a spica cast was applied (9.7 weeks), usually without a general anesthesia. Angular deformity was assessed by measurement of the fracture-site diaphyseal angle as well as by measurement of the interphyseal angle described by Wallace and Hoffman. No significant complications were recorded regarding leg-length discrepancy, deformity, refractures, etc. Mean cost is not a factor in determining method of treatment at our hospital. We feel that this type of fracture in the 4 years to 10 years age group can be safely treated with a conservative approach.     

Femoral shaft fracture treatment in patients age 6 to 16 years

Traction followed by spica casting, the one method used to treat femoral shaft fractures in children that was used in the past, has given way to a multiplicity of methods today. To evaluate the morbidity and costs of these various methods, 85 fractures in 81 patients age six to 16 years were evaluated. Early spica casting gave excellent results with low complications and low costs. All surgical treatments cost approximately the same: 3 times the cost of early spica casting and equivalent to traction followed by spica casting. Intramedullary flexible rods resulted in quicker healing and return to full weight bearing than did external fixation, which had the highest complication rate. One case of avascular necrosis in an 11-year-old girl treated with a reamed intramedullary rod suggests that this method is best reserved for children at or near skeletal maturity.     

The treatment of femoral shaft fractures in children: a systematic overview and critical appraisal of the literature.

OBJECTIVE: Through a critical systematic overview of the literature on the treatment of pediatric femoral shaft fractures to determine if any method of treatment can be recommended over others. DATA SOURCES: A MEDLINE search was performed for all cohort and randomized clinical trials for the years 1966 to 1996. STUDY SELECTION: Of 1217 identified articles, 15 cohort studies (where 2 or more treatments were compared in the same study) reported the treatment of children with femoral fractures. DATA EXTRACTION: Information was abstracted and articles rated for quality blind to author, institution and journal. DATA SYNTHESIS: Children having early application of a hip spica cast had an average hospital stay of 11 days (range from 5 to 29 days), average charges of $5784 (range from $590 to $11,800), average rates of limb-length discrepancy (greater than 2 cm) of 3% (range from 0 to 25%), angulatory malunion rates (greater than 10 degrees) of 8% (range from 0 to 19%), and rotational malunion rates (greater than 10 degrees) of 13% (range from 0 to 5%). The costs and malunion rates of early application of a hip spica cast were lower than for traction. Internal fixation (including intramedullary nails) had low angulatory malunion rates compared with early application of a hip spica cast but higher over-lengthening rates (greater than 2 cm) of 25% (range from 5% to 100%) and mean rotational malunion rates (greater than 10 degrees) of 25% (range from 11% to 32%). CONCLUSION: Early application of a hip spica cast had lower costs and malunion rates than traction.     

Traction spica cast for femoral-shaft fractures in children

We treated 20 children for an isolated femoral shaft fracture using distal tibial traction incorporated into a spica cast with the knee in full extension. Patients were discharged from the hospital at a mean of 5.1 days following injury. All fractures healed, and there were four minor complications. At a mean follow-up of 35 (13-72) months, all patients were asymptomatic with normal function. All but one fracture healed in acceptable alignment, and there was no clinically significant leg-length discrepancy. The method is relatively simple to employ and may be advantageous in a setting of limited resources.     

The treatment of pediatric femur fractures with early 90-90 spica casting

Twenty-three consecutive children younger than 6 years with a closed femoral shaft fracture stemming from low-energy trauma were treated with an early spica cast. With the patient under general anesthesia, a fiberglass cast was applied in sections. A short-leg cast was applied first, and then the patient was placed on the spica table. The hip and knee were flexed to 90 degrees, and traction was applied to the injured limb via the short-leg cast while the cast was completed. The popliteal fossa was well padded, and a valgus mold was placed at the fracture site. The average number of days in the spica cast was 42 (range, 18-57 days). Average shortening of the fracture at the time of cast removal was 1.0 cm (range, 0.1-2.1 cm). Final patient examinations were performed 18-24 months after the fracture. Overgrowth averaged 1.1 cm in the femur (range, 0.5-1.9 cm) and 0.4 cm (0-0.7 cm) in the tibia. Limb lengths in each patient were within 1 cm of the contralateral limb when measured by scanogram and by blocks. The success of early spica cast treatment in this series can be attributed to strict patient selection and meticulous cast application.     

Remodeling after femoral shaft fractures in children treated by the modified blount method

One hundred forty-one children with femoral shaft fractures in the 1-12-year age range were treated by simple skin traction without spica cast immobilization. All fractures united in an average traction period of 28 days. Clinical and radiological reevaluation 2-10 years after treatment showed that fracture location, age, and overriding significantly affected overgrowth, whereas the length of the follow-up period and the direction of angular deformity affected correction of angulation. The following conclusions were reached: Distraction should be avoided, and overriding of up to 15 mm can be compensated for by growth acceleration. Initial angular deformities of up to 20 degrees in the coronal plane and up to 30 degrees in the sagittal plane will end in a satisfactory outcome. Rotational deformity was not a problem following this method of treatment.     

Immediate hip spica casting for femur fractures in pediatric patients. A review of 175 patients

Immediate closed reduction and application of a well-molded hip spica cast is a safe and effective treatment option for closed, isolated femur fractures in children who weigh between 10 and 100 pounds. Between 1988 and 1996, 190 immediate hip spica casts were placed on children with isolated femoral shaft fractures who weight between 10 and 100 pounds. Fifteen patients were lost to followup leaving 175 children who were evaluated and followed up for at least 2 years after the hip spica cast was removed (range 2-10 years). The femur fractures were reduced closed and placed in a 1 1/2 hip spica cast in the emergency room with the patient under conscious sedation or in the operating room with the patient under general anesthesia. All of the children returned home within 24 hours of the procedure. All 175 femur fractures united within 8 weeks. The only complication was a refracture in a 25 pound child who fell 1 week after the cast was removed. No significant residual angular deformities were present in any of the children at last followup. None of the children required external shoe lifts, epiphysiodesis, antibiotics, irrigation and debridements, or limb lengthening procedures for leg length inequalities. The authors think that immediate closed reduction and placement of a well-molded hip spica cast is a safe and reliable treatment option for isolated, closed femur fractures in children from birth to 10 years of age who weigh less than 80 pounds.     

Femoral shaft fractures in children: technique of immediate treatment with supracondylar Kirschner wires and one-and-a-half spica cast

Sixty-five children between 3.5 and 12 years of age with femoral shaft fractures were treated with fixed traction using supracondylar Kirschner wires incorporated in a one-and-a-half spica cast. Medial angulation up to 15 degrees, lateral angulation up to 5 degrees, and overriding up to 2 cm have been accepted. Posterior and anterior angulations have been rejected. After an average 4-year follow-up, neither joint stiffness nor skeletal deformity developed. At follow-up, maximal shortening was 0.8 cm, and overgrowth was 0.5 cm. Except for complicated cases, the use of this method is justified.     

Bryant traction in paediatric femoral shaft fractures, home traction versus hospitalisation

AIM: To evaluate Bryant traction at home in terms of feasibility, morbidity, effect on length of hospital stay, outcome and costs. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 54 children treated for femoral shaft fracture (1991-2004). Results of 'home traction' (A, n=38) and 'hospital traction' (B, n=16) were compared. Data were collected regarding demographics, length of hospital stay, traction period, various aspects of the fractures, co-morbidity, morbidity, and follow-up. The parents' experience was evaluated by telephone questionnaire. RESULTS: Two early treatment failures occurred. One patient stopped home traction at 8 days due to skin problems and had a spica cast applied at another hospital, with subsequent development of a compartment syndrome. The other patient was placed in a hip spica after 2 weeks of hospital traction because of difficulty in getting satisfactory X-rays. At follow-up, one unacceptable shortening of 3 cm had occurred in the home traction group. There was only a significant difference in hospital stay (A 7.0 days versus B 22.5 days), total traction period (A 28.0 days versus B 22.5 days) and costs (group B 3x versus group A). The parents were overall pleased with traction at home. Complications occurred as much in the home traction group as in the control group and fracture position at union was equal in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with home traction is feasible, simple and effective; it reduces hospital stay to 1 week, and costs to one-third. Good patient selection and instructions of the parents are mandatory.     

Femoral shaft fractures in children treated by closed reduction and early spica cast with incorporated supracondylar Kirschner wires: a long-term follow-up results.

38 children between 1 and 10 years of age with femoral shaft fractures were treated by closed reduction and early spica cast with incorporated supracondylar Kirschner wires and followed up prospectively. Overrides of maximum 15 mm, medial and anterior angulations less than 15 degrees and lateral angulation up to 5 degrees were considered acceptable. Posterior angulation and malrotation were not accepted. Of the 38 children examined at a mean of 65.6 months (range, 58-80 months) after fracture, none had any residual skeletal deformity and joint stiffness. At long-term follow-up, maximal shortening was 11 mm and overgrowth was 6 mm. The only factor associated with unacceptable shortening was shortening > 15 mm at the time of spica cast application. We believe that close follow-up during the first 3 weeks after cast application is important in order to achieve an acceptable final outcome. On the other hand this method of treatment is simple, safe and effective. It dramatically decreases hospital stay and cost of treatment and allows rapid return of the patients to their family environment.     

Reconstruction plate fixation of subtrochanteric femoral fractures in children

Pediatric subtrochanteric femoral fractures are rare and have received limited attention in the literature Treatment is controversial. Different treatment options are used: skin traction, 90/90 skeletal traction, spica casting, cast bracing, internal fixation and external fixation. The aim of this study is to present our results with internal fixation of subtrochanteric femoral fractures in children using a reconstruction plate. Between 2000 and 2004, eighteen patients with closed subtrochanteric femoral fractures were treated in the Mansoura Emergency Hospital. The average age at the time of injury was 8.2 years (range 5.3 years to 11.5 years). Pathological fractures and fractures associated with neuromuscular diseases were excluded from this study. Eight patients had head injuries and/or multiple injuries. In all cases a single 4.5 mm contoured reconstruction plate was used and a 6.5 mm cancellous screw was inserted through the plate into the femoral neck. Average follow-up was 38 months (range, 12 to 47 months). All fractures united with anatomical alignment within an average of 8 weeks (range 6 to 12 weeks). There were no deep infections and no significant limb length discrepancies. At the latest follow-up, no patient had any restriction of activities. Internal fixation with a reconstruction plate appears as a good treatment option for children with subtrochanteric femoral fractures.