Biological fixation of fracture shaft femur in children.

The aim of this work was to assess the results of biological fixation of fracture shaft femur in children with locked plates. Twenty-eight fractures in 26 children with closed fractures of the shaft of the femur were managed with biological plating using locked plates bridging the fracture site applied submuscularly through two small incisions above and below the fracture site. The mean age of the patients was 11.2 years; all patients had radiological union within a mean time of 11.9 weeks (8-14 weeks); the average follow-up was 31 months (14-40 months). No patient had frontal or sagittal plane deformity more than 10° or limb length discrepancy more than 1.5 cm. There was no infection, delayed union, nonunion or clinically evident malrotation. A significant positive correlation between the age and the time to healing (p = 0.03) was detected, whereas there was no significant correlation between time to healing and patient sex, fracture level, fracture type, mechanism of injury. Also there was no significant correlation between limb length discrepancy and patient age, sex, fracture level, fracture type, and mechanism of injury. Biological fixation of fractures of the femoral shaft in children with locked plates is a reliable method of fixation with excellent healing potential and fixation mechanics without complications.