Abstract

This study aimed to compare the effects of the traditional short- and long-term traction methods on the union and angulation of femoral fractures in pre-school children. Thirty-six patients aged 0–6 years, with diaphyseal femur fractures, who had undergone a conservative treatment, were included in the study. The patients were divided into two groups according to their traction times before the application of the hip spica cast: 0–10 days of traction (Group A) and 11–21 days of traction (Group B). After the completion of the union and the removal of the casts, bone scans were performed and the angulations in the coronal and sagittal planes were comparatively evaluated, as well as the lengths of the lower extremities. The mean age of the patients was 4.2 ± 1.94 years. Hip spica casts were applied to 17 patients after short-term traction and 19 patients after long-term traction. The mean length of hospital stays of the patients who were applied the hip spica casts after short-term and long-term tractions were 8.4 and 19.3 days, respectively. A statistically significant difference was observed between groups A and B regarding hospital stay (p < 0.001). After the removal of the casts, the angulation values of groups A and B were 13.5 ± 5.28° and 13.69 ± 8.84° in the coronal plane and 14.75 ± 6.66° and 14.46 ± 10.95° in the sagittal plane, respectively. The shortness value of the groups was 1.67 ± 0.75 and 1.56 ± 0.95 cm, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between both groups in terms of angulation and shortness (p > 0.05). Hip spica casting after short-term traction can be used as a safe alternative method in the treatment of diaphyseal femur fractures in preschool children due to its adequate stability and shorter length of hospital stay.

Key words: Pediatric femur fractures, hip spica cast, traditional method, traction