[Follow-up and late results following treatment of childhood femoral shaft fractures].

On reexamining 82 femoral shaft fractures in children (50 conservatively and 32 operatively treated) 75% of the patients did not have any complaints. 25% showed a mild limping which in the majority was caused by a longitudinal overgrowth of more than 5 mm. This overgrowth was mostly to be found in patients with unstable osteosynthesis. Muscular atrophy was seen mainly in the operative group. Cutaneous necrosis after plaster extension was the most common complication. Only one rotational deformity was observed. In conclusion we think that the conservative treatment of the uncomplicated femoral shaft fracture in children is the proceeding of choice. Open fractures, especially in polytraumatic cases, should be treated by osteosynthesis, which has to be motion stable. The worst therapy of femoral shaft fractures is, as our results show, an unstable osteosynthesis.