[Complication rate after femoral shaft fractures in childhood and adolescence depending on patient factors and treatment measures].

Background: The treatment of pediatric femoral shaft fractures has undergone an increasing change in recent years. The previously predominant treatment procedures were extensively replaced by minimally invasive techniques (e.g. elastic stable intramedullary nailing, ESIN). The aim of this study was the comparison of complication rates depending on patient factors as well as various treatment procedures.

Material and methods: This study involved a retrospective X‑ray morphometric evaluation of data. The patient files and X‑rays of 101 children who were treated at 2 level I trauma centers were analyzed.

Results: Conservative treatment was carried out in 19% of the cases. Among the surgical procedures the ESIN technique was predominant (n = 60). Complications that needed revision occurred in 10% of the children after conservative treatment. Revision surgery had to be carried out in more than 6% of the cases in children who were surgically treated. Among the surgical procedures ESIN stabilization demonstrated the lowest revision rate with only 3%. Children under three years and adolescents had a higher risk for developing complications. If the ESIN wires used were too thin in relation to the diameter of the medullary cavity there was an increased probability of complications of around 30%.

Conclusion: This study revealed a moderate risk of complications in the treatment of femoral shaft fractures in children. The risk of complications after external fixation and conservative treatment was the highest in this study. Overall, the ESIN technique showed the lowest risk of complications. The results of this study could confirm the known limitations of the ESIN technique depending on age and body weight.