Haq, Inam UlSultan, AsifRashid, Shafat2024-09-242024-09-242023-02Haq Inam Ul, Sultan Asif, Rashid Shafat. Submuscular Plating vs Flexible Intramedullary Nailing in the Management of Paediatric Femoral Shaft Fractures. International Journal of Contemporary Medical Research. 2023 Feb; 10(2): 1-52393-915X2454-7379https://imsear.searo.who.int/handle/123456789/228183Introduction: The aim of this study was to compare the outcome in terms of patient characteristics, intraoperative blood loss, operative time, length of hospital stay and complications after insertion and removal of submuscular plates (SMPs) and flexible nails (FNs) for pediatric femoral shaft fractures. Material and methods: 40 children between the age of 6 to 14 years of age who underwent treatment with SMPs (n=22) and FNs (n=18) from 2018 to 2020. Results: insertion of FNs was associated with shorter operative time (mean= 61.2 minutes) and less blood loss (mean=92 ml) compared to SMPs. The FNs group had a shorter length of hospital stay (mean 4.9 days) compared with SMPs (mean=8.6 days). Removal of FNs was also associated with shorter operative time and less blood loss compared to SMPs. Two patients treated with SMPs and one patient treated with FNs developed surgical site infections. Two patients treated with SMPs and three treated with FNs developed implant irritation that resolved with removal. Two patients treated with SMPs and one treated with FNs developed knee stiffness requiring aggressive physiotherapy protocol. One patient treated with FNs developed burisitis at nail insertion site. No other complications occurred. Conclusion: When compared with SMPs, FNs are associated with less operative time, decreased blood loss and less duration of hospital stay in patients with femur fractures.ChildrenFemur FractureInternal FixationSubmuscularTitaniumUnionFunctional OutcomeJournal ArticleIndiaPG Scholar, Department of Orthopaedics, Govt. Medical College, Srinagar, J&K, IndiaAssociate Professor, Department of Orthopaedics, Govt. Medical College, Srinagar, J&K, IndiaAssistant Professor, Department of Orthopaedics, Govt. Medical College, Srinagar, J&K, India