5 children with femoral shaft fractures were treated by external fixation. Their ages at fracture were 6 to 11 yeras.
The mean time until partial weight bearing was 3.2 weeks. The mean duration of admission was 5.2 weeks. All cases had bone union without malunion or limb shortening, and showed full range of motion at the knee joint.
External fixation is a useful method for treating femoral shaft fractures in children from elementary school, allowing early crutch-assisted gait and early return to school.
