ArticleJournal of the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America2025
Dynamic Femur Fracture Brace vs Hip Spica Cast for Pediatric Femoral Shaft Fractures: A Retrospective Comparative Cohort Study.
Article in Journal of the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
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Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Radiological effectiveness and cost analysis of the spica casting method without anesthesia in emergency room conditions for femoral shaft fractures in children under five years old.Ulusal travma ve acil cerrahi dergisi = Turkish journal of trauma & emergency surgery : TJTES · 2026Article
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4 authors.
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Abstract
Background: Femoral shaft fractures constitute 1.6% of pediatric fractures and are a leading cause of pediatric orthopaedic hospitalization. The prefabricated DF2 functional brace offers an alternative to traditional spica casting, which is effective but has limitations. This study compares short-term outcomes and complications between the DF2 brace and spica casting in the management of pediatric femoral shaft fractures. Methods: A retrospective comparative cohort study analyzed 40 patients aged 1-5 years with diaphyseal femur fractures treated between September 2021-August 2024 in a single level 1 trauma center. Twenty patients treated with the DF2 brace were compared with 20 spica cast patients with similar ages, weights, and fracture patterns. Primary outcomes included fracture union, time to weight-bearing, and radiographic alignment. Secondary outcomes encompassed hospital admission rates, length of stay, and complications. Results: Demographics were similar between groups (mean age 2.2 years, 80.0% male). Hospital admission rates were significantly lower in the DF2 group (35.0% vs 75.0%, Conclusion: The DF2 brace demonstrated similar short-term clinical outcomes compared to spica casting while significantly reducing hospital admissions, length of stay, and need for general anesthesia. Our study replicates previously presented work that the DF2 brace represents an attractive alternative for managing pediatric femoral shaft fractures, optimizing healthcare resource utilization without compromising treatment efficacy. Key Concepts: (1)The DF2 brace's modular design with adjustable compression and hip hinge system enables straightforward application in the emergency department under conscious sedation, facilitating femur fracture stabilization without requiring general anesthesia or operating room resources.(2)The DF2 brace demonstrated similar short-term clinical outcomes to traditional spica casting for pediatric femoral shaft fractures while significantly reducing hospital admissions, length of stay, and need for general anesthesia.(3)All patients in both treatment groups achieved radiographic bone union by 6 weeks, with comparable time to weight-bearing and no observed malunions.(4)Our institution's treatment approach shifted dramatically from 100% spica casting in 2021-2022 to 90.5% DF2 bracing by mid-2024, reflecting rapid adoption based on favorable clinical outcomes and healthcare resource utilization. Level of Evidence: Level III retrospective case-control study.
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