Clinical Measurement of Longitudinal Femoral Overgrowth Following Fracture in Children

S Nordin, MD Ros, WI Faisham
Correspondence: Dr S Nordin, nordins@kb.usm.my

ABSTRACT
We have studied residual limb length inequality following femoral shaft fractures in 62 children. From 61.2% of the children who had shortening of more than 1 cm at union, 34.21% still maintained the shortening at the completion of study. The longitudinal femoral overgrowth occurred significantly during the first 18 months of the fracture in 77.4% of the children, with an average of 1.17 cm. Children with proximal-third fractures and those who sustained the fractures before eight years of age have higher capability to correct the limb length disparity.

Keywords: Femoral fractures, Residual overgrowth, Clinical measurement
Singapore Med J 2001; 42(12): 563-565