FIXAÇÃO INTRAMEDULAR DAS FRATURAS DO FÊMUR NA INFÂNCIA E NA ADOLESCÊNCIA COM HASTES FLEXÍVEIS INTRAMEDULLARY FIXATION OF FEMUR FRACTURES IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH FLEXIBLE RODS

Objective: To evaluate the surgical treatment results using intramedullary retrograde Ender nails in isolated unilateral femur fractures. Methods: the authors performed a retrospective study of 31 patients (32 femurs), 22 (71%) males and 9 (29%) females with the mean age of 11,3 years (8 to 16 years old). According to the trauma mechanism we observed: 13 (42%) car accidents, 5 (16%) motorcycle accidents, 4 (13,%) running over accidents, 6 (19 %) falls from height and 3(10%) bicycle falls. The follow up varied from 1,6 to 6,3 years (average of 2,7 years). The period of hospitalization was 6,81 days varying from 3 to 19 days. After 1 year we performed clinical evaluation (pain, range of motion, gait) and scanogram do evaluate LDD. Results: We obtained 28 (90,3%) satisfactory and 3 (9,6%) unsatisfactory results. The following complications were recognized: LLD in 8 (25,8%), pain 2(6,4%), limited range of knee flexion in 1 (3,2,%) patients. Conclusions: the authors still consider small the population studied although the higher rate of satisfactory results. The treatment with Ender nails was effective, safe, unexpensive and can be indicated to treat isolated stable femur fractures.