Outcome of Supracondylar Femur Fracture in Adults Managed By Distal Femur Locking Compression Plate

Abstract

Distal femoral fractures currently account for less than 1% of all fractures and about 3% to 6% of all femoral fractures; however, the incidence rate increases with increasing age [1-3]. The distal femur fractures have bimodal incidence. One group includes patients below 40 years of age (nearly 40 % of cases), predominantly males, sustaining high-energy trauma such as Road traffic accident or a fall from heights and the other group consists of patients more than 50 years, (nearly 60 % of cases) predominantly females, with osteoporosis, who sustain relatively low energy trauma [4-8]. However, in both instances, axial load to the leg is the most common cause. Management of distal femoral fracture remains a challenge to orthopaedic surgeons. They usually result from high-velocity injury leading to comminuted and unstable fracture pattern [9,10]. Challenges associated with these types of fractures are adequate exposure of particular surface, particularly of the medial femoral condoyle and coronal plane fractures. In the setting of medial combinations and short distal segment, there is a high incidence of loss of fixation and varus collapse on weight bearing if improper and inadequate fixation technique is used for the treatment of such fractures.