Sub muscular bridge plating for pediatric femur fractures – Review of 12 patients

Introduction: The treatment of paediatric femoral fractures has been evolving from nonoperative modalities to operative intervention, especially in older children. Different methods of fixation include flexible intramedullary nailing, modified locked intramedullary nailing, external fixation, open compression plating, and sub muscular bridge plating. Treatment of complex paediatric femur diaphyseal fractures is difficult by conventional methods. External ?xation can lead to malalignment and refractures, casting is difficult for polytrauma patients and larger children, elastic nails do not provide adequate stability to unstable fractures and metaphyseal areas, and lateral trochanteric entry rigid nails are unsuitable for very proximal and distal fragments and are ideal for older children for the want of larger medullary canal. Sub muscular bridge plating has emerged as a viable alternative procedure. We present our results of sub muscular bridge plating in 12 patients. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 12 patients with pediatric diaphyseal femoral fractures treated with SBP from 2014 to 2016. The average age was 9 years with follow up of 1yr. Results: All the children had complete union and could return to full activity. Two patients had superficial infections. There were no cases of significant malalignment or leg length discrepancy. Implant removal was performed in 8 patients without complications. Conclusion: We find sub muscular plating of paediatric femoral fractures to be an effective and reliable procedure. SBP is a minimally invasive technique that allows early mobilization with minimal complications.