COMPARATIVE STUDY OF INTERNAL FIXATION OF DISTAL FEMORAL FRACTURES IN ADULTS USING DYNAMIC CONDYLAR SCREW AND DISTAL FEMORAL NAIL

Abstract

Background: Distal femoral fractures are uncommon, usually complex and account for about 7% of all femoral fractures. These fractures often are unstable and comminuted and tend to occur in elderly or multiply injured patients. The incidence is highest in women older than 75 years and in adolescent boys and men 15-24 years. Aim: To compare the results of different modes of internal fixation of different type of distal femur fractures by Distal Femoral Nail and Dynamic Condylar Screw. 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: Most of the patients were operated on an average of 6.5th day from injury. Average intra-operative blood loss and operating time for DFN were significantly low compared to the other group. The average duration of hospital stay was 14.7 days overall. No groups showed significant higher duration of the same. Conclusion: Dynamic condylar Screws give results in treating pure supracondylar or complete intraarticular fractures, although with less satisfactory outcomes especially in the latter.