Pediatric femur fractures: effects of spica cast treatment on family and community.

Twenty-three consecutive children with isolated closed femur fractures treated with early spica casts were studied to determine the impact of this treatment on family, school, and other support systems. Mobility was identified by families as the major problem. In families with two working parents, a mean of 3 weeks time off work was needed. None of the children was accepted into school in cast. Home tutoring for a mean of 8 weeks was used, with...