Related Experiment Videos
External skeletal fixation in children's fractures.
Journal of Pediatric Orthopedics
|September 1, 1983
Summary
Hoffmann external fixation effectively treated acute pediatric fractures, including open fractures, with good union rates. While some infections and limb length discrepancies occurred, range of motion remained unimpaired.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Pediatric Orthopedics
- Trauma Care
Background:
- Acute fractures in children, particularly open fractures, present complex treatment challenges.
- External fixation offers a method for stabilizing pediatric fractures, especially those with associated soft tissue damage.
Observation:
- Fourteen children with acute fractures (13 tibia, 1 femur), mostly open, were treated with Hoffmann external fixation.
- The device was used for an average of 11 weeks (range 6-20 weeks), with a mean follow-up of 17 months.
Findings:
- Half of the patients experienced purulent drainage, but no chronic infections developed.
- Fracture union occurred between 12-52 weeks (median 17 weeks); three refractures were noted post-union.
- Minor angular deformity (6 degrees varus) in one patient; three had leg length discrepancies (≥2 cm), and four experienced limb overgrowth (1-3 cm).
- No permanent impairment of range of motion was observed.
Implications:
- The Hoffmann device is a viable option for pediatric open fractures with skin loss or burns.
- Recommended for children with head injuries causing increased motor tone and polytrauma patients to aid care and transport.
- External fixation can be safely utilized in pediatric fracture management with careful monitoring for complications.