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Case Studies | Orthopaedic Surgery | India | Volume 12 Issue 2, February 2023

Functional Outcome of Distal Femur Fractures Managed with Plate and Nail Osteosynthesis

Maruti .B Lingayat | Visakh .V

Abstract: Study design: Prospective study to deduce the functional outcome of distal femur fractures in 50 patients operated in our hospital with supracondylar nail and distal femur plate. Objective: To study the functional outcome and results of operative modalities for treatment of Distal femur fracture with Locking compression plates, Condylar buttress plate, Dynamic condylar screw with side plate and Retrograde intramedullary. supracondylar nail. Material and Methods: This was a prospective study conducted with 50 patients with distal femur fractures managed surgically with both plate osteosynthesis as well as retrograde supracondylar nail. Patients were assessed in terms of intraoperative blood loss, operative time, early weight bearing and radiological union. Results: Decreased operative time, intraoperative blood loss was observed in a case of supracondylar nailing when assessed along with a case of distal femur plating. Early weight bearing and mobilisation could be started in a patient in whom supracondylar nailing was done. As far as radiological union was taken into account both had similar results with nailing showing union upto 4 weeks before plating. Conclusion: Retrograde supracondylar nail and distal femur plating had similar long-term outcome in extraarticular distal femur fractures. Patients managed with supracondylar nailing had less blood loss, decreased hospital stay, and early weigh bearing since nail is a load sharing device. But these factors were not significant to affect the final functional outcome.

Keywords: Distal femur fracture, locking compression plate, supracondylar nail

Edition: Volume 12 Issue 2, February 2023,

Pages: 555 - 562