[Long-term results after conservative treatment of pediatric femoral shaft fractures].

The principles of treatment for fractures of the femoral shaft in children include conservative and operative management. Traditionally, these fractures have been treated conservatively with skeletal traction. More frequent consideration is being given to the psychological and economical outcome. At what age of the patient surgery can be performed is still open to debate. From 1988 to 1999, 52 children with closed femoral shaft fractures were treated conservatively in the Klinik für Unfallchirurgie, Plastische und Wiederherstellungschirurgie der Universität Göttingen (until 1994 Klinik für Allgemeinchirurgie). Overhead traction was applied in 27 children with a mean age of 19.9 months (group I), and a 90-90 skeletal traction was performed in 25 children with a mean age of 47 months (group II). This treatment was followed by spica casting on an outpatient basis. At a mean follow-up of 6 11/12 years (2 4/12-12 5/12) in 33 children all fractures were healed and no malalignment with clinical relevance could be observed. In four patients the limb overgrowth was 15-20 mm. The assessment of psychological and somatic aspects revealed disturbances in the family environment. The average length of hospitalization was much shorter in group I (mean: 17.4 days) than in group II (mean: 23.7 days). Our study confirms the good long-term results after conservative treatment of femoral shaft fractures in children up to 6 years. Social and psychological problems due to the prolonged period of hospitalization as well as the high costs of skeletal traction favor surgical treatment for children older than 3-4 years.