Objective:

The incidence of femoral shaft fractures in pediatric population is approximately 20 in 100,000. The choice of treatment depends on age, weight, the mechanism of injury, type and location of fracture, socioeconomic status, and the cost effectiveness. In the literature, it has been shown that the relation between complications of titanium elastic nailing (TEN) of femoral shaft fractures. The objective of our study is to investigate the association between the weight and complication rates of pediatric femoral shaft fractures treated with TEN.

Methods:

Between 2013 and 2016, a total of 50 patients aged between 6 and 13 years with femoral shaft fracture treated with TEN in our hospital were analyzed retrospectively. Complication rates were analyzed using the SPSS 22.0 program according to the fracture type, demographical features, and weight.

Results:

The analysis showed that age, gender, the fracture site, and the localization of fracture did not have a statistically significant association in the group with complications and the other group (p>0.05). When comparing the fracture stability and complication rates, in the unstable femoral shaft fracture group, there were statistically significant high complication rates (p<0.05). The weight for age percentiles of the group with complications was statistically significantly higher than in the group without complications (p<0.05).

Conclusion:

It was shown that there is association between the complication rates and weight for age percentiles. When choosing the patient or treatment modality, this factor should also be considered. We believe that the families should be informed about the increased risks in these overweight and obese patients.

Keywords: Femoral fractures, fracture fixation, intramedullary, trauma