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Flexible titanium nailing for the treatment of the unstable pediatric tibial fracture

O'Brien T, Weisman DS, Ronchetti P, Piller CP, Maloney M

Journal of pediatric orthopedics, 2004

14 participants

Abstract

Tibia fractures in the skeletally immature patient can usually be treated without surgery. The purpose of this study was to assess the use of flexible titanium nails in the tibia that requires operative stabilization. Over a 5-year period, 16 unstable tibia fractures in 14 patients were treated with flexible titanium intramedullary nails. All charts and radiographs were reviewed. The average age was 10 years 4 months. There were three open fractures. All fractures healed. Closed injuries obtained union by an average of 8 weeks, open fractures by an average of 15 weeks. There were no malunions. The average follow-up was 1 year 5 months. There were no instances of growth arrest, remanipulations, or refracture. In the unstable pediatric tibia fracture, flexible titanium nails are an effective treatment to obtain and maintain alignment and stability.

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a cohort study, done in people. Its evidence level is 3 of 5 (Moderate · trial / cohort / secondary analysis). Trials without a large randomized design, cohorts and secondary analyses give moderate evidence. Reported size: 14 participants or records.

How the five levels of evidence work. The level is assigned automatically from the abstract and can be wrong, so check the paper.

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