Compression-plate fixation of femoral shaft fractures in children aged 8 to 12 years.

Twenty-one patients between the ages of 8 and 12 years with 23 femoral-shaft fractures underwent dynamic compression plating (DCP) between August 1993 and February 1996. Eleven patients had isolated femoral-shaft fractures, five had associated long-bone injuries, and five had multiple organ injuries. A 4.5-mm DCP plate was used in each case. Patients were kept non-weight bearing with crutches for an average of 8 weeks. Hardware failure occurred in two patients at 6 weeks. One was treated with revision plating, and the other, with spica casting. Both healed uneventfully. No other complications occurred. All patients were radiographically and clinically healed at last follow-up.