ANALYSIS OF OUTCOMES OF INTERNAL FIXATION OF DISTAL FEMORAL FRACTURES IN ADULTS USING DISTAL FEMORAL LOCKING PLATE AND DISTAL FEMORAL NAIL

Abstract

Background: Fractures of the distal part of the femur are difficult to treat and present considerable challenges in management. If fractures of the hip are excluded, 31% of femoral fractures involve the distal portion. The incidence of the fractures is highest in women older than 75 years and in adolescent boys and men of 15 to 24 years of age. Aim: The aim of our study is to compare the results of different modes of internal fixation of different type of distal femur fractures by Distal Femoral Nail & Distal Femoral Locked Plate. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted in the department of orthopedics, R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital; 1,K.B. Sarani, Kolkata – 700004. The main source of patients was those adults presenting with distal femoral fractures attending either emergency or outdoor & also patients referred from peripheral hospitals. Distal femoral fractures of AO/OTA type A fractures (i.e. extra-articular supracondylar) & AO/OTA type C1 & C2 fractures (i.e. articular simple, metaphyseal simple type & articular simple & metaphyseal multifragmentary type respectively). Results: Our study showed that the mean hospital stay for patients treated in two different groups included the day of admission of the patient to day of discharge. Day of injury might be the same as day of admission or somewhat before that. Average intra-operative blood loss and operating time for DFN were significantly low compared to the DFLP group. Conclusion: Distal Femoral Locking Plate can be used in type A and type C fractures and also in patients in older age group with significantly higher satisfactory outcome maintaining somewhat a balance between stability and rigidity of its fixation.