[Prévot nailing, an elegant method. Experiences with 38 personal cases]

Endomedullar elastic stabilization with titanium Prévot nails is an excellent method of treating long-bone fractures in children. Without touching the epiphyseal line, this method guarantees early functional follow-up treatment with minimal operative trauma. For this reason, this method can compete successfully with common methods like extension treatment, external fixation and osteosynthesis with plates. From October 1990 to October 1993 we treated more than 40 fractures with Prévot nails and checked 38 of them clinically and radiologically. All 17 femur fractures healed correctly from an anatomical point of view and without rotation defects. In 4 patients we found a maximum difference in length of 1 cm in favor of the operated side. All of the 11 forearm fracture had good results, but there were 2 poor results with delayed union (adult patients) in the 6 humerus fractures operated upon. The remaining 4 cases, had to do with exceptional indications like lower leg fractures, combined humerus and forearm diaphyseal fractures, and metacarpal diaphyseal fractures. Our first experience with this method is good. The duration of hospitalization is short and early functional follow-up treatment for pediatric diaphyseal fractures is in general practicable. This procedure for operative care of femur and forearm diaphyseal fractures has now become the standard therapy in our clinic.