Vol. 9 | Issue 1 | January-February 2021 | Page: 14-19 | Shobha HP, Girisha KG, Karthik S

Authors: Shobha HP [1], Girisha KG [1], Karthik S [1]

[1] Department of Orthopedics, MMCRI Mysore, Karnataka, India.

Address of Correspondence
Dr. Girisha K G,
Post Graduate Resident, Department of Orthopedics,
Mysore Medical College and Research Institute,
Krishna Rajendra Hospital, Mysore, Karnataka, India.
E-mail: girih948@gmail.com

Abstract

Introduction: A majority of pediatric tibia fractures are treated with closed reduction and cost application in the past. Recently, there has been a shift of treatment toward operative management with flexible intramedullary nails. The aim of our study is to study the safety and efficacy of elastic stable intramedullary nails for unstable pediatric tibial shaft fractures using titanium elastic nails (TENs).
Methods: Our study included all tibial diaphyseal fractures of the pediatric age group between 5 and 14 years admitted to the Orthopaedics Department KR Hospital, MMCRI. The study period was between February 2017 and February 2018. All patients were treated with TENs by closed manipulation under general anesthesia. Our study group included 24 cases. Postoperatively, cases were followed up to 6 months. Based on clinical and radiological parameters, the outcome was classified into excellent, satisfactory, and poor according to the Flynn classification for flexible nail fixation.
Results: In our study, all patients achieved complete healing at a mean time of 9 weeks. Complications seen in our study included malunion, skin irritation, and delayed union. Major complications such as limb length discrepancy, rotational deformity, and deep infection were not seen in any of our cases. Based on Flynn’s criteria, we had 22 cases with excellent results, 2 cases with satisfactory results, no poor results.
Conclusion: TENs for unstable pediatric tibial diaphyseal fracture is an easy and effective method of fixation that allows early mobilization, particularly in the setting of head injury, polytrauma, and compartment syndrome where closed reduction cannot be attempted.
Keywords: Tibial fracture, Pediatric, Titanium elastic nails, Elastic stable intramedullary nail, Flynn criteria.

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