Comparison of surgical and conservative treatment methods as exemplified in the juvenile femur

: In a series of 329 children treated for fractures of the femur between 1968 and 1982 a comparison was made between the results of mere extension treatment against operative compression plate treatment. The follow-up shows that conservative methods suffer from high rate of axial deviation, particularly antecurvature, while operative treatment has the negative effect of a higher, incidence of persistent leg lengthening and of re-fracture. The advantages of operative management, namely precise positioning of fracture, low damage to soft tissue and - above all - unimpaired motility of the young patient justify its preferred use in the treatment of femur fractures in children - except for long oblique fractures.