Abstract
Five skeletally immature patients developed premature closure of the greater trochanteric physis consequent to placement of an intramedullary rod for primary treatment of a femoral diaphyseal fracture. Each patient developed increased femoral neck valgus as compared with the contralateral hip. To date, however, none of these patients has had any functional disability, although one has developed mild radiographic subluxation. In addition, anatomic specimens demonstrated the likelihood of traversing a portion of the greater trochanteric physis. Other methods of fracture treatment, either operative or nonoperative, should be considered in skeletally immature patients who have not entered the final phase of skeletal maturation characterized by subchondral "sclerosis" along the greater trochanteric physis.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Adolescent
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Child
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Epiphyses / diagnostic imaging*
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Epiphyses / pathology
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Female
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Femoral Fractures / diagnostic imaging
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Femoral Fractures / pathology
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Femoral Fractures / surgery*
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Femur Head / diagnostic imaging
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Femur Head / pathology
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Femur Neck / diagnostic imaging*
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Femur Neck / pathology
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Fracture Fixation, Internal / methods*
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Fracture Healing / physiology
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Fractures, Closed / diagnostic imaging
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Fractures, Closed / pathology
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Fractures, Closed / surgery*
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Humans
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Leg Length Inequality / diagnostic imaging*
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Leg Length Inequality / pathology
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Male
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Osteoarthritis, Hip / diagnostic imaging
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Osteoarthritis, Hip / pathology
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Osteogenesis / physiology
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Postoperative Complications / diagnostic imaging*
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Postoperative Complications / pathology
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Radiography