Ninety - Ninety Skeletal Traction for Fractures of the Femoral Shaft in Children

Won, Choong Hee; Chung, Moon Sang; Lee, Choon Seong

Abstract

Treatment of femoral shaft fractures in children is varying according to age. Satisfactory results have been obtained with longitudinal skin traction, split Russell traction, ordinary Russell traction, 90-90 skeletal traction, and immediate application of a spica cast(2,4,6,11,15). Most authors use one or more techinques routinely. It is safe and convenient to use single treatment protocol to treat all fractures of same type, Distal femoral skeletal traction with the knee and hip flexed 90 degrees and with the thigh hanging free, using the trunk as counter traction, has been used routinely for femoral shaft fractures in children(age 4-12). We reviewed 30 cases of femoral shaft fractures in children treated with 90-90 skeletal traction. 1. The average age of the patients was 6.8 years(range, 4-12 years), and almost all were caused by pedestrian injury. 2. The average time of traction was 48 days(range, 28-75), and 12 cases(40%) were treated without spica cast application. 3. Four among 30 cases developed angular deformity exceeding acceptable range(15° in AP view, 20° in lateral view), and three of them were proximal third fractures. 4. The older the patient, the longer the duration of limited activity and the more tendency of angular deformity. 5. 90-90 skeletal traction is easy, safe and convenient to treat all femoral shaft fractures of the children between four and ten years old.