Introduction and Aims: The treatment of femoral shaft fractures in skeletally immature patients has changed dramatically over the past 30 years. This is due in part to the advances in intramedullary nail outcomes pioneered in the adult orthopaedic trauma literature. We examined the results of reamed, locked nails in a pediatric population.

Method: The medical records of 224 children with femoral shaft fractures treated with reamed, locked intramedullary nails (RLIMN) at our institution between 1987 and 2000 were reviewed (largest series in the literature). Patients were treated with nails placed through the greater trochanter. Of those patients, 72 patients had long-term clinical (> 24 months) and radiographic (AP pelvis and leg length CT scanogram) follow-up. Functional status and radiographic parameters (femoral neck-shaft angle, leg length, presence of osteonecrosis) were recorded. Patients lacking two-year clinical and radiographic follow-up were evaluated via telephone follow-up.

Results: At our institution, over 200 skeletally immature patients have successfully undergone reamed, locked, intramedullary nailing of femur fractures. Average age at the time of treatment was 10.3 years. No case of osteonecrosis of the femoral head occurred. All fractures united after treatment with RLIMN at an average of 71 days. No patient manifested a gait abnormality after healing. Complications included delayed union in two patients, (one patient was treated with exchange IMN and one patient healed after dynamisation) superficial wound infection in one patient, (treated with oral antibiotics) and coxa valga in one patient. The patient that developed coxa valga was 7.7 years old at the time of intramedullary nailing. The only other procedures performed were removal of hardware in patients who remained skeletally immature at the time of healing. All patients returned to pre-injury activity level. The average leg length difference was 0.6cm (longer on the injured extremity). Average articulo-trochanteric distance was 0.28cm (longer on injured extremity).

Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that femoral shaft fractures in skeletally immature patients can be safely treated with reamed, locked intramedullary nails placed through the greater trochanter. We recommend careful placement of the nail through the greater trochanter to avoid damage to the blood supply of the femoral head.