The treatment of progressive coxa vara in children with bone softening disorders.

Fractures of the proximal femur frequently occur in children with osteogenesis imperfecta or fibrous dyplasia and may lead to progressive coxa vara and a "shepherds crook" deformity. We have found existing methods of fixation of the femoral neck in small children to be unsatisfactory. We have devised a method of fixation using a small signal arm nail. With a mean follow-up of 9.3 years there was a successful outcome in all 11 hips treated.