[Lengthwise growth of the lower extremities after shaft fractures in children]

Clinical and orthoradiographic follow-up of 50 tibial and 36 femoral fractures in children at an average of 4 1/2 years post trauma has revealed the follwing trends: Increased growth is irrelevant with regard to tibial fractures. Most of the conservatively treated femoral fractures were shortened at the time of follow-up, most of the operatively treated were longer than the uninjured side. This may be explained by lack of primary shortening after anatomical reduction. The increased growth of the fractured femur was more pronounced after conservative than operative treatment, probably because of the more marked primary shortening. Increased growth of the femur is almost 50% less in children older than 12 years whether they are treated operatively or conservatively. Therefore anatomical reduction if necessary by an operation has to be achieved in children older than 12 years. Finally an account is given on the shortening effect of a dislocation ad axim and the radiological projection of this dislocation in two plains.