[Long term results of femoral neck fractures in children].

Femoral neck fractures in children occur most frequently as a result of automotive accident or free fall. A long term results in 36 cases of femoral head fractures in children age 2-18 (9.8 yrs on average) were evaluated. The fractures were divided based on the most widely used Delbet scale: type I--transepiphyseal (2 cases), type II--transcervical (8 cases), type III--cervicotrochanteric (14 cases) and type IV--intertrochanteric (12 cases). The minimum evaluation period was 3 years (from 3 up to 29 years). The results were evaluated based on the Ratliff criteria. The long term results observed were better in children treated with type III and IV fractures than in type I and II. Also cases treated within 3 days from the trauma had better long term results than cases treated later. The significantly better results of femoral head fractures occurring in children under 6 yrs of age is most likely connected with the change of the blood supply to the proximal femoral region occurring at the age of 4. The most common complication was the avascular necrosis of the femoral head (36%).