Key result
Two adolescent patients treated with external fixation for femoral shaft fractures experienced refracture after fixator removal, suggesting prolonged rigid fixation may impair callus formation.
Case Report (n=2)
Prolonged rigid or static external fixation in adolescent femoral shaft fractures may lead to insufficient callus formation and subsequent refracture.
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May warrant caution with prolonged rigid external fixation in adolescents; hypothesis-generating for optimal fixation duration and callus formation.
Malunion is often a problem in adolescent femoral shaft fractures treated with traction and subsequent casting. We used external fixation as an alternative treatment method to control alignment and allow early mobilization. After fracture healing and fixator removal, two patients experienced refracture. This unusual complication is the basis of our report. Prolonged rigid or static fixation appears to be detrimental to sufficient callus formation and healing.
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Probe et al. (1993) conducted a case report in Adolescent femoral shaft fractures (n=2). External fixation was evaluated on Refracture after fracture healing and fixator removal. Two adolescent patients treated with external fixation for femoral shaft fractures experienced refracture after fixator removal, suggesting prolonged rigid fixation may impair callus formation.
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