Abstract :
Byline: Jin Li, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China; Saroj Rai, Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery, National Trauma Center, National Academy of Medical Sciences, Mahankal, Kathmandu, Nepal; Renhao Ze, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China; Xin Tang, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China; Ruikang Liu, First School of Clinical Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.; Pan Hong, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China Abstract The utilization of elastic stable intramedullary nail (ESIN) in length unstable femoral shaft fractures in children remains controversial, and the results in different studies vary a lot. This study aims to investigate the clinical outcomes of ESINs versus submuscular plate (SMP) in length unstable femoral shaft fractures.Patients aged 5 to 11 years old with length unstable femoral shaft fractures treated at our institute from January 2008 to January 2018 were included and categorized into ESIN and SMP group. The preoperative data and operative variables were collected from the hospital database, and postoperative data including complications were collected at follow-up visits.In all, 77 patients (8.1 ± 1.9 years old, male 45, female 32) in ESIN group and 45 patients (8.0 ± 2.2 years old, male 26, female 19) in SMP group were included in this study. Comparing operative variables, there was significantly less operative time, reduced estimated blood loss (EBL) and shortened hospital stay for ESINs as compared with SMP (P