Fixação externa em fraturas de fêmur em crianças

The effects of external fixation in femoral fractures in children were investigated in a prospective study. Twenty-four children with twenty-six femur fractures (23 closed fractures and three open fractures) were treated with external fixation from 1997 to 2000. Mean age was eight years and eight months ( ranging from six to 13 years). All fractures were followed up for up to six months after consolidation, which was observed in 100% of the cases when the external fixator was removed after a mean time of 87 days ( ranging from 63 to 135 days). Infection through the screw hole was frequent, but none of the patients had osteomyelitis. The major complication was refracture (17%), which required a new procedure with external fixator.