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Article Type

Original Study

Abstract

Objectives The objectives of this study were to investigate the safety and the efficacy of elastic stable intramedullary nailing in the treatment of pediatric tibial shaft fractures. Background Use of the intramedullary nailing technique in the treatment of one of the common injuries involving the lower extremities in children and adolescents. Patients and methods A prospective study of 20 children with tibial shaft fracture, who had been admitted to the Menoufia University Hospital and the Nasr City Medical Insurance Hospital between March 2012 and June 2013; all patients had diaphysealtibial fracture. The average age of the patients in this series was 11.3 years (range 5-15 years), and the mean follow-up was 8.1 months (range 6-15 months). Patient charts and radiographs were reviewed prospectively. Outcomes were classified as excellent, satisfactory, or poor according to Flynn«SQ»s classification for flexible nail fixation; functional assessment and radiological assessment using the Radiographic Union Scale of the Tibial Fracture scoring system was carried out in the 4th and the 12th weeks. Results All patients achieved full weight bearing at a mean of 9.7 weeks (range 8-16 weeks). The results were excellent in 15 (75%) patients and satisfactory in five (25%) patients; two cases showed 5-10΀ of angular malalignment, and the other three cases were complicated with nail-end protrusion and a limb-length discrepancy of 2 cm of less. No patient was with poor result. Conclusion On the basis of these results, elastic stable intramedullary nailing with titanium elastic nails is an effective surgical technique that allows rapid healing of tibial shaft fractures with an acceptable rate of complications.

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