Abstract

• PURPOSE: To investigate the proper indication, technical point and complication of the early hip spica cast. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-one children with thirty-two fractures more than 2-year follow up were included. The patient's average age and weight were 5 year 2 months and 19.1 Kg respectively. Spica cast was applied as follow. First short leg cast was applied, and then patient was placed on the spica cast table. During the cast incorporation, the hip and knee flexed sufficiently to maintain length and alignment of the fracture, and popliteal fossa was well molded and padded. The meticulous valgus molding of the fracture site was also needed. RESULTS: Average bayonet overriding of the fracture was initially 1.1 cm, however it increased to 1.5 cm during cast immobilization. In the 9 patients (28.1%), cast wedging correction were needed to 3 to 14 days after initial cast immobilization and the cause of correction was related to patients weight. At the final follow up, there was no serious functional or cosmetic complications. CONCLUSION: For the successful treatment, the proper patients selection, meticulous cast application and careful radiographic assessment after cast application were needed.
• Key words: Femur, Pediatric fracture, Early hip spica cast

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• Stiff Knee by Entrapment of Quadriceps Femoris Tendon at Fracture Site in Paediatric Distal Femur Shaft Fracture
  Suk Kang, Jong Pil Kim, Chung Soo Hwang, Phil Hyun Chung, Young Sung Kim, Sang Ho Lee, Jin Wook Chung
  Journal of the Korean Fracture Society.2007; 20(4): 339.     CrossRef