A Clinical Study on the Treatment of Femoral Shaft Fractures in Children: Immediate Hip Spica Cast Immobilization
10.4055/jkoa.1988.23.3.707
- Author:
Hyoun Oh CHO
;
Chul Eun KO
;
Kyung Duk KWAK
;
Sung Do CHO
;
Jae Hak LEE
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Femoral shaft fracture;
Immediate spica cast;
Children
- MeSH:
Child;
Clinical Study;
Fractures, Closed;
Head;
Hip;
Humans;
Immobilization;
Methods;
Nursing Care;
Traction;
Vascular System Injuries
- From:The Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
1988;23(3):707-712
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
The traditional treatment for the femoral shaft fractures in children is closed reduction by continuous traction, usually for 2–3 weeks, until the fracture has achieved partial stability, followed by spica cast immobilization. Fifty three cases, from 3 to 10 years of age, has been treated with closed reduction and immediate application of hip spica csst; all of them were closed fractures of femoral shaft and were not associated with head, abdominal, or vascular injuries. Any angulations in excess of acceptable ranges were corrected with wedging the cast; any overridings in excess of acceptable ranges were corrected by skeletal traction for 1 week, followed by incorporation of the pin to the cast. The resultant overriding and angulation of fragments were within acceptable ranges, and complications were not significant.This method of treatment not only is likely easy in nursing care and comfortsble to the patients but also has some advantages of short stay in the hospital, better utilization of hospital beds, and costsaving. This immediate hip spica cast immobilization seems to be a good method of treatment for the femoral shaft fracture in children.
