Femural shaft fracture in a newborn infant treated with axial external fixator: a case report

BACKGROUND: The authors present a case of femural shaft fracture inanewborn infant treated with axial external fixator. METHODS: The patient presented at the time of birth with a lumbar myelomeningocele and right femural shaft fracture. The common methods of treatment cannot be used, so 24 hours after birth before neurosurgery, we applied a Mini Penning Orthofix External Fixator for fracture stabilization. RESULTS: The external fixator was maintained for 30 days and removed after taking a radiograph that showed fracture healing. At the last follow-up (2 years), the patient did not present axial or torsional defects of right lower limb. CONCLUSIONS: External fixation is not a traditional method for treatment of femural shaft fractures in patients younger than 6 years, but we think that in some cases, when traditional methods (splinting, cast, Pavlik harness) cannot be used, an external fixator is also a good option in patients younger than 2 years and in newborn infants.