femoral shaft fractures

Question 1

why do they occur in children

Answer 1

due to a fall onto a flexed knee or by indirect bending or rotational forces

Question 2

what can be acceptable in femoral shaft fractures

Answer 2

shortening because in the healing of femoral shaft fractures in children overgrowth tends to occur

Question 3

in children less than 2

Answer 3

more than 50% of femoral shaft fractures are caused by non-accidental injury

Question 4

management of femoral shaft fractures in children under 2

Answer 4

gallows traction and early hip spica cast

Question 5

in children between 2-6 management

Answer 5

thomas splint or hip spica cast

Question 6

children between 6-12

Answer 6

flexible intra-medulalry nails

Question 7

children aged 12+

Answer 7

adult type intra-medullary nail

Question 8

important to remember

Answer 8

femur is a common site for benign and malignant primary bone tumours so fractures can be pathological with osteolysis and cortical thickening