Study of the outcome of titanium elastic nail system (Tens) in diaphyseal fractures of femur and tibia in children

Abstract

Elastic stable intramedullary nailing for the treatment of Pediatric long bone fractures was introduced by Prevost and colleagues in 1979. Stabilization follows the three-point fixation principle that provides internal elastic support in the presence of cortical contact and an intact soft-tissue envelope. The technique offer several advantages including better reduction, dynamic axial stabilization, shorter hospitalization with early rehabilitation and low rate of complications. All children and adolescent patients between 5-16 years of age with diaphyseal fractures of femur and / or tibia admitted at Institute of Medical Sciences And Research, meeting the inclusion and the exclusion criteria during the study period were the subjects for the study. Totally, 30 cases were studied without any sampling procedure. Patients were followed up at 6, 12 and 24 weeks after surgery and assessed clinically and radio-logically. The final outcome is assessed as per Flynn’s criteria as excellent/ satisfactory/ poor. The final outcome was excellent in 18 (60%) cases, satisfactory in 12 (40%) cases and there were no poor outcome cases. Titanium elastic nail fixation is a simple, easy, rapid, reliable and effective method for management of pediatric femoral and tibial fractures between the age of 5 to 16 years, with shorter operative time, lesser blood loss, lesser radiation exposure, shorter hospital stay and reasonable time to bone healing. Hence we conclude that flexible intramedullary nailing is an excellent technique for the treatment of diaphyseal fractures of the femur and tibia in children and adolescents aged 5 to 16 years.