Femoral shaft fractures in pediatric patients

Summary

Evidence is conflicting from two retrospective cohort studies to show whether titanium elastic nails or stainless steel nails are preferred in pediatric patients with femoral shaft fractures. One study found the malunion rate was four times higher with titanium nails compared with stainless steel nails. The other study reported more complications after stainless steel nailing, and found time to healing and to full weight bearing favored the use of titanium nails. Conclusions regarding preference for either of these two nails cannot be made from the evidence in these two studies.