The Influence of Assisted Fixation on Pain Relief for Subtrochanteric Femur Fractures in Children

Background : Subtrochanteric femur fractures of children usually recover slower than the intertrochanteric femur fracture and tends to increas the rate of deformity. The difference among treatment options in postoperative pain level should be considered as a crucial factor while tailoring patients’ therapeutic schedules, but has not been paid enough attention to. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the postoperative pain level of hip spica casting, abduction brace and skin traction as assisted fixation to operative interventions. Methods Forty-seven children with subtrochanteric femur fractures on one side were admitted and divided into three groups according to the different assisted fixation they received. Operating time, intraoperative blood loss, follow-up time, postoperative fixation time, days in hospital, time to union, Harris scores, CHEOPS scores (before treatment, after treatment and at the last follow-up time) and VAS scores (before treatment, after treatment and at the last follow-up time) were collected. Results No significant difference of demographic characteristics data was found between the three groups before treatment(P > 0.05). After treatment and at the last follow-up time, the CHEOPS scores and the VAS scores of the three groups were all significantly lower than before(P > 0.05). But there is still no difference between the three groups(P > 0.05). Conclusion Hip spica casting, skin traction and abduction brace have the same ability to relieve the pain of subtrochanteric femur fractures in children.