Fracture of the femoral shaft in children: advantages of the descending medullary nailing.

In a 7-year period, 70 children aged 5-15 years (mean 9.2 years) were treated for a fracture of the femoral shaft (73 fractures: 71 closed and 2 open) by flexible medullary nailing, either ascending (12 cases) or descending (61 cases). Although the classic treatment is use of the ascending route described by the Nancy team, the subtrochanteric descending route was preferred for its simplicity. Noninvolvement of the knee by the insertion of the nail allows earlier autonomy in children. Results were satisfactory and no complications related to the method were observed. Biomechanical principles are also respected by such treatment.