Ender nail fixation of pediatric femur fractures: a biomechanical analysis.

Biomechanical testing was performed to determine the effects of flexible intramedullary nail fixation on simulated transverse and comminuted midshaft femur fractures using two Ender nails. A synthetic adolescent-size femur model was used. The axial and rotational stiffness values for the simulated comminuted fracture were equivalent to those of the transverse fracture under "touch-down weight-bearing" loads. These data suggest that length and rotational control of comminuted midshaft femur fractures with two divergent Ender nails may be sufficient for early mobilization.