Immediate incorporated hip spica casting in pediatric femoral fractures: comparison of efficacy between normal and high-risk groups.

BACKGROUND

Immediate hip spica casting is the most commonly used method for the treatment of pediatric femoral fractures. The main disadvantage of the method is the unacceptable shortening (>25 mm), which may occur during the treatment. Buehler et al described the so-called telescope test to identify the cases with a relatively high risk of unacceptable shortening. On the basis of this test, patients with an overriding of the fracture ends of more than 30 mm have a 20.4 times higher risk of unacceptable shortening compared with those with an overriding of less than 30 mm. This relatively higher risk of unacceptable shortening may be avoided by a hip spica cast, which is incorporated to a distal femoral traction pin.

METHODS

The study consists of 47 (26 boys and 21 girls) patients. Mean age was 40.3 months (range, 18 months to 6 years). Patients were divided into 2 groups according to the telescope test. Group 1 included patients with telescope test results of more than 30 mm. Group 2 included patients with telescope test results of 30 mm or less. All patients were treated with a hip spica cast, which is incorporated to a distal femoral traction pin within 8 hours of the initial trauma. During cast treatment, patients were followed up by weekly x-ray controls for the first month. Patients were assessed for unacceptable shortening and misalignment.

RESULTS

Mean (SD) shortening during cast treatment was 2.9 (5.1) mm on the treated site. Shortening was detected in 16 patients (88.9%) in group 1 and in 7 patients (24.1%) in group 2. A significantly higher number (P < 0.001) of patients developed shortening in group 1. However, unacceptable shortening (>25 mm) did not develop in any patient in both groups. There was no significant frontal plane malalignment in both groups (P > 0.05). Sagittal plane malalignment was significantly higher in group 1 (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Hip spica cast, which is incorporated to a distal femoral traction pin, avoids unacceptable shortening and frontal plane malalignment in pediatric femoral fractures, which even have a relatively high risk of unacceptable shortening based on the so-called telescope test. However, the technique cannot avoid sagittal malalignment.