Pediatric orthopedics is the division of orthopedics that cares for children's issues. Caring for kids is very different from the care of adults. Pediatric orthopedic surgeons face specific issues in the treatment of children.
Pediatric Fractures - Broken Bones in Children:
Fractures are common in children. Because of growth plates, and growing bones, it is important that broken bones in kids are treated properly.
Pediatric Femur Fractures:
Femur fractures are not uncommon injuries in children. Fortunately, most femur fractures heal well, even with nonsurgical treatments. The amount of displacement (separation of the bone ends) that can be accepted depends on the child's age, with even widely displaced fractures healing in young children. Therefore, determining treatment of femur fractures should be distinguished by the age of the child.
Femur Fractures in Infants:
Femur fractures in infants and toddlers will usually heal with cast treatment.
Due to the rapidly growing bone in young children, the bone ends do not need to be perfectly aligned. The bone will remodel over time to the point where it may not even be evident the bone had been injured. Most infants and toddlers will require spica casting for about 4 to 6 weeks to allow for adequate bone healing.
Femur Fractures in Early Childhood:
In younger children (under age 6), spica casting is usually sufficient for treatment of a femur fracture. The duration of casting may be slightly longer as children get older, but the bone still has excellent potential for healing.
There is a judgment that is made by your orthopedic surgeon and you (as the parents) when deciding how to best treat children in the 5- to- 8-year-old range. As mentioned, these kids are often treated well as young children in a spica cast. In other situations, your doctor may recommend surgery to insert flexible rods (see below). You can discuss the pros and cons with your doctor.
Femur Fractures in Late Childhood:
There is no clear cutoff for when spica casting becomes less practical, but you can discuss options with your doctor. The most commonly performed surgical treatments for femur fractures are:
External Fixation:
External fixation uses a rod outside of the body that is attached to the bone with long pins or screws. The use of external fixators is limited, especially because of such good results with the flexible rods. The external fixators are often used with open fractures or when the fractured bone is in many pieces (comminuted).
Flexible Rods:
The most common treatment for older children (ages 7 to 12) is a flexible intramedually rod. These rods are easily inserted in to the hollow center of the bone, and easily removed after treatment. The rods are inserted just above the knee and do not cross the growth plate. They are not rigid, and therefore, cannot support the child. Since these young children still heal very quickly, however, they tend not to cause problems.
Standard Rods:
Intramedually rods are the standard treatment for a femur fracture in an adult. Only once a child's growth plates have closed should this type of rod be used. Around the ages of 11 to 14, most femur fractures will be treated the same as they are treated in an adult.
Specialist In
Diagnostic & Therapeutic arthroscopy.
Reconstruction surgeries for ligaments in knee, shoulder etc.
Sports Med. & Arthroscopic Surgeon:
Post Graduation from Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE).
Fellowship in Arthroscopy from Manipal Academy of Higher Education.
Fellowship in Sports Orthopaedics from Technical University of Munich, Germany.
National Faculty Member in Indian Arthroscopy Society & Indian Association of Sports Medicine.
