[Fractures of the neck of femur in juveniles (author's transl)].

The problems of the treatment of femoral neck fractures in young patients are discussed on 22 cases as well as the operative technique, post-operative treatment, late complications and their treatment. We feel that femoral neck fractures in children and young ones should be treated operatively. The three flanged nail should be used for internal fixation, giving a better fixation than K-wires. We have not seen any damage caused by the crossing of the epiphyseal plate with a nail or K-wires. Postoperatively the patient should walk non weight bearing on the fractured hip for 9 months, especially in transcervical fractures. The danger of aseptic necrosis of the femoral head is clearly diminished by this precaution. The late results of femoral neck fractures in juveniles are clearly worse than in children. The femoral neck fracture of the young is to be treated as an emergency. If the therapy is too late or not adequate the consequences for the hip joints of the juveniles can be drastic.