Birth fractures of the femur

Birth fractures of the femur are uncommon. During the period between 1988 and 2013, twelve newborns under the age of one month were treated at Zagreb Children’s Hospital with birth fracture of the mid-third and proximal third of the femur. The most common risk factor was breech delivery. Diagnosis was set according to clinical examination and x-rays. Patients were treated by extension according to Bryant, casting, and recently, with the Pavlik harness. In all patients, stable bone callus was seen on x-rays in the fourth week of life, and despite signifi cant displacement of the bone fragments, adequate bone axis of the femur was achieved. There was no signifi cant leg length discrepancy or angulation of the femur in further development.

Read more