[Femoral neck fractures in childhood]

Twenty-eight fractures of the neck of the femur occurred in children between 1963 and 1982 were treated and followed up at the Pediatric Surgical Hospital of the University of Mainz. Three children had transepiphyseal fractures (type I), eight children transcervical fractures (typ II), six children cervicobasal fractures (typ III), and eleven children pertrochanteric fractures (typ IV). Surgical intervention was performed in fifteen children, and thirteen children were submitted to conservative treatment. The results were evaluated according to a new system considering troubles, mobility, and X-ray findings. The evaluation showed good results in twenty children, bad results in two children, and satisfactory results in one child. Five children could not be evaluated. Complications necessitating an osteotomy with change of the bone position were only seen after conservative treatment. The therapeutic procedure applied in order to prevent the most severe complication, i.e. the aseptic necrosis of the femoral head, is pointed out.