Early spica cast for fracture shaft of femur in children: the north of Jordan experience

This is a case series study that was conducted to assess the findings and usefulness of early spica in children less than 10 years of age. Forty patients less than 10 years of age with femoral shaft fractures were treated by early hip spica between 2000 and 2005 and were followed up for 6 months. The setting was a public university hospital and a public university-affiliated hospital in the north of Jordan. Ultimate shortening of the affected limb of ≥2 cm was observed in those patients with an overlap between fragments of ≥2 cm in the first post-spica X-ray. One case of significant angulation and no cases of rotation deformities were observed. It is concluded that early spica cast in children under the age of 10 is an effective treatment modality. Only in the presence of overlap of ≥2 cm between fragments in the first post-spica X-ray, there would be a chance of ultimate shortening of the affected limb by ≥2 cm. Children aged ≥6 are more liable to develop leg shortening.