Distal femur fracture and union rate by using locking compression plate: Our experience from a tertiary care centre in Maharashtra

Abstract

Introduction: Distal femur fractures remain difficult fractures to treat successfully as they are often communited, unstable, with intra-articular extension and associated with severe soft tissue injury to the quadriceps mechanism and ligament disruption of knee joint. They are often caused by high energy trauma mainly sustained in road traffic accidents.
Objective: To study the clinical profile of distal femur fracture and its union rate by using locking compression plate
Methodology: The study was conducted on patients of distal femur fracture treated by locking compression plate in tertiary care hospital during the study period September 2017 to June 2019
Results: Out of 42 patients with distal femoral fracture in our study, majority of them i.e. 12(28.6%) were from 41-50 years. Mullers type A2 was commonest i.e. 11(26.2%) followed by A3 in 10(23.8%) and A1 in 8(19%). Only in 10 cases associate implants were used.
HERBERT implant was used in 5 i.e. 11.9% patients followed by TENS in 4(9.5%). Radiological assessment revealed that in majority of the cases i.e. in 25(59.5%), union took place between 16-18 weeks.
Conclusion: Non-union rate was 7.1% and union rate was 92.9% in our study. Radiological assessment revealed that in majority of the cases i.e. in 25(59.5%), union took place between 16-18 weeks followed by 11(26.2%) cases in 19-20 weeks, 5(11.9%) cases in 21-22 weeks and in 1(2.4%) it was above 22 weeks.