Lateral Locked Plating for Distal Femur Fractures by Low-energy Trauma: What Makes a Difference in Healing?

Overview

Journal Int Orthop

Specialty Orthopedics

Date 2018 Mar 18

PMID 29549401

Citations 12

Authors

Sang-Min Kim

Jae-Woo Yeom

Hyung Keun Song

Kyu-Tae Hwang

Ji-Hyo Hwang

Je-Hyun Yoo

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Purpose: The objective of this study is to investigate healing outcome of lateral locked plating for distal femoral fractures caused by low-energy trauma. In addition, we sought to determine predictable factors associated with fracture healing time.

Methods: Seventy-three patients (73 fractures) with distal femur fractures (AO/OTA type 33) caused by low-energy trauma were recruited. The mean age of patients was 69.8 years (range, 43-87 years). All fractures were stabilized by less invasive osteosynthesis with anatomical periarticular locking system. Patients were followed up for mean 17.3 months (range, 6-44 months).

Results: Of the 73 fractures, 52 (71.2%) fractures showed bony union within 6 months after the index surgery while the remaining 21 (28.8%) fractures showed delayed union or received revision surgery prior to complete healing. Although overall healing rate from the initial surgery was 93.2% (68/73), which seems to be satisfactory, the rate of surgical complications was 11.0% (8/73). Of all 73 fractures, seven received further surgery including three re-osteosynthesis. On multivariable analysis, plate-screw density at the fracture site was an independent predictable factor associated with the problematic healing.

Conclusions: Our findings suggest that complications related to increased healing time and fixation construct are not infrequent and ongoing problems in managing low-energy distal femur fractures. Specifically, plate-screw density at the fracture site has a significant influence on healing time in these fractures.

Citing Articles

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