Management of Femoral Shaft Fractures in the Adolescent

Abstract

Forty-four patients (45 fractures) with open physes (age range 11-16 years) underwent treatment for femoral shaft fractures. Seven malunions occurred in the 24 fractures in the nonoperative group; none occurred in the 21 fractures treated by intramedullary nailing. Hospital stay was significantly shorter in the operatively treated patients. There was no premature growth arrest in the surgical group.