Rotational deformities after femoral shaft fractures in childhood. A retrospective study 27-32 years after the accident

Abstract

Fifty femoral shaft fractures sustained in childhood and for the most part treated conservatively were studied in retrospect 27-32 years after the accident, with special reference to rotational deformity. Femoral rotation was measured by means of so-called anteversion X-rays according to Dunn-Rippstein, and the same radiological examination was carried out in a control group of 100 adult volunteers. The L/R differences in femoral rotation were studied in the patient group in comparison with the control group. Persistent rotational dislocation was found in only one case, and had had no demonstrable untoward consequences. The established view that rotational dislocation is incapable of spontaneous correction is refuted with aid of clinical and experimental data from the literature and personal observations. It is concluded that, in the patients studied, good results have been obtained by the conventional traction methods of Bryant and Russel. The use of the so-called "Weber Bock" to replace these methods is therefore not recommended.