External Fixation of Long Bone Fractures in Children

Cho, Se Hyun; Song, Hae Ryong; Koo, Kyung Hoi; Min, Young Sik; Jung, Yeun Chun; Hwang, Sun Chul; Kim, Jai Soo; Kim, Ji Yeun

Abstract

Twenty-eight patients with 20 tibia fractures and 8 femur fractures were treated with external fixation. The average age at fracture was 10 years 10 months ranging from 5 years to 17 years 6 months. Of 28 fractures, 6 were closed fractures and 22 were open fractures. The average follow-up of these children was 23 months. Monofixators were used in 12 fractures and Ilizarov fixators in 16 fractures. The average time to healing of the fractures was 14.6 weeks(range, 6 to 44 weeks). Seven segmental bone defects(range, 2 to 17cm) were treated with the Ilizarov method of internal bone transport using the transport ring and bone grafting at the docking site. The average healing index for callus distraction was 25 days per centimeter. Seven patients had 10 major complications that necessitated additional operative procedures. There were 4 nonunions. Three patients had an infected nonunion, which was treated with the Ilizarov fixator and polymethyl-methacrylate antibiotic beads. One patient had a hypertrophic nonunion which was treated with plate fixation. Three patients who had an epiphyseal injury had shortening with angular deformity, which was treated by callus distraction. Three patients had a joint contracture, which was treated by the percutaneous tenotomy and Ilizarov fixator. The selection of the type of external fixator depends on the fracture pattern and the Ilizarov fixator is recommended for complicated fracture with severe comminution or segmental bone loss.