OBJECTIVETo explore the curative effects and complications of elastic intramedullary nail in treating children's bilateral femoral shaft fractures.

METHODSForm February 2005 to March 2008, 7 patients with bilateral femoral shaft fractures were treated by closed reduction and internal fixation with elastic intramedullary nail. There were 5 males and 2 females. The age ranged from 3 to 13 years with the mean of 8.3 years. Six injuries caused by road accident and 1 injury caused by fall from high. Two cases associated with pulmonary contusion, 3 cases brain injuries, 1 case fracture of calcaneus and 1 case bladder injuries. All the cases were closed fractures without nerve and blood vessel injury. A cast external fixation had been used after operation for a month in two cases.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up for 21-37 months with an average of 30.3 months. No infecton of incisional wound, displacement fracture, internal fixation fail, delayedunion and malunion were found. All fracture obtained healing for 7-12 weeks with an average of 8.7 weeks. Inequality of lower limb was found in 1 case (length differences was 5 mm). According to Flynn scoring,all fractures were excellent.

CONCLUSIONTreatment of femoral shaft fractures in children with elastic intramedullary nail according with biological principle. The method has little trauma, less complication, outstanding effect and it is a good way to treat bilateral femoral shaft fractures result from high-energy injuries.