Treatment of femoral fractures in children by pediatric orthopedists: results of a 1998 survey.

SUMMARY: This study aimed to determine treatment preference of various femoral fracture patterns in children by pediatric orthopedists and whether it is practice dependent. In September 1998, members of the Pediatric Orthopedic Society of North America were surveyed to determine their current preferences in treating each of four middle one-third femoral fracture patterns in four age groups. Forty-four percent (286/656) of those surveyed responded. For each fracture pattern, operative treatment was increasingly preferred over nonoperative as patient age increased, and the preferred treatments within the operative and nonoperative categories changed significantly as patient age increased. Fourteen specific cases of femoral head avascular necrosis were noted after rigid reamed and unreamed rodding. There is a statistically significant trend by pediatric orthopedists to treat older children's femur fractures operatively and younger children's nonoperatively. The consensus treatment is age dependent. The numerous cases of avascular necrosis after rigid rodding are a concern.