open distal femur fracture

INTRODUCTION: Distal femur fractures account for 3-6% of all femur fractures. Internal fixation of most distal femur fractures with an anatomic lateral locking plate should permit some motion at the metaphyseal portion of the fracture when secondary bone healing is planned by the operating surgeon. While several studies have been performed evaluating union rates for distal femur fractures with stainless steel and titanium plates, the timing of callus formation between stainless steel and titanium implants used as bridge plates for distal femur fractures (AO/OTA 33-A and -C) has been investigated to a lesser extent...

INTRODUCTION: Non-ossifying fibroma (NOF) is a common benign fibrogenic bone lesion commonly found in the metaphysis of long bones. While small NOFs are typically asymptomatic and left untreated, large NOFs are often associated with pathologic fractures that can be treated conservatively or operatively. To our knowledge, the NOF presented in this case report is one of the largest reported in the literature. CASE REPORT: We present a case of a 12-year-old Hispanic female who presented to our institution after falling off a horse and landing on her right leg and wrist...

We describe a trifocal femur injury with intracapsular femoral neck fracture, diaphyseal fracture with bone loss, and distal complete articular (AO/OTA C type) fracture, an injury rarely described in the literature. Surgical management utilized a not-yet-reported implant combination: screw-side plate device for the intracapsular femoral neck, retrograde nail for the diaphysis, and lag screws plus mini fragment buttress plating for the distal fracture. The patient had uneventful fracture union with no changes in alignment...

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to compare the biomechanical properties of locked and nonlocked diaphyseal fixation in a model of distal femur fractures using osteoporotic and nonosteoporotic human cadaveric bone. METHODS: A supracondylar osteotomy was created to mimic a fracture (OTA/AO 33A3) in osteoporotic (n = 4) and nonosteoporotic (n = 5) cadaveric distal femurs. The left and right femurs of each pair were instrumented with a distal femoral locking plate and randomly assigned to have diaphyseal fixation with either locked or nonlocked screws...

BACKGROUND: Although stress fractures of the distal femur are rare, symptoms can overlap with other peri-articular knee pathology, delaying diagnosis. Untreated stress fractures have the potential to progress into completed fractures with a higher likelihood for requiring surgery and longer recovery times in otherwise healthy adolescents and young adults. This case series represents the largest cohort of adolescent athletes with distal femoral stress fractures who presented with activity-related knee pain...

Distal femur fractures are challenging injuries to manage, and complication rates remain high. This article summarizes the international and basic science perspectives regarding distal femoral fractures that were presented at the 2022 Orthopaedic Trauma Association Annual Meeting. We review a number of critical concepts that can be considered to optimize the treatment of these difficult fractures. These include biomechanical considerations for distal femur fixation constructs, emerging treatments to prevent post-traumatic arthritis, both systemic and local biologic treatments to optimize nonunion management, the relative advantages and disadvantages of plate versus nail versus dual-implant constructs, and finally important factors which determine outcomes...

OBJECTIVES: To determine the early implant failure rate of a novel retrograde intramedullary femoral nail. METHODS: Design: Retrospective matched case control. SETTING: Academic level 1 trauma center. PATIENTS SELECTION CRITERIA: Patients 18 years and older with an acute AO/OTA 32-A, 32-B, 32-C, and 33-A fracture or periprosthetic distal femur fracture from April 2018 to April 2022 were included in the study. The two interventions compared were the Synthes Expert Retrograde/antegrade femoral nail (RAFN or control implant) versus the next generation RFN-Advanced retrograde femoral nail (RFNA or experimental implant) (Synthes, West Chester, PA)...

PURPOSE: The fixation method of distal, extra-articular femur fractures is a controversially discussed. To ensure better stability itself, earlier mobilization and to prevent blood loss - all these are justifications for addressing the femur via reamed intramedullary nailing (RIMN). Anatomical reposition of multifragmentary fractures followed by increased risks of non-union are compelling reasons against it. The purpose of this study was to systematically review the literature for rates of non-union and wound infection, as well as blood loss and time of surgery...

PURPOSE: Periprosthetic fracture (PPF) is one of the severe complications in patients with osteosarcoma and carries the risk of limb loss. This study describes the characteristics, treatment strategies, and outcomes of this complication. METHODS: Patients were consecutively included who were treated at our institution between 2016 and 2020 with a PPF of distal femur. The treatment strategies included two types: 1) open reduction and internal fixation with plates and screws and 2) replacement with long-stem endoprosthesis and reinforcement with wire rope if necessary...

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the short-term clinical efficacy of the short-term clinical efficacy of bone cement intramedullary support combined with locked plate fixation in the treatment of such fractures. METHODS: A retrospective study including 21 patients was reviewed at an urban level one trauma center. There were 17 males and 4 females, with a mean age of 33.9 years. Gustilo grade was II (12 cases), III-A (6 cases), III-B (2 cases), and III-C (1 case)...

RATIONALE: Extremity injuries resulting from motor vehicle collisions, especially those leading to bone-exposed wounds, present challenges for achieving effective wound coverage. Such injuries are susceptible to complications including infections, osteomyelitis, and unexpected amputations due to inadequate blood supply. Severe traumatic degloving injuries often entail damage to the surrounding blood vessels, making local or free flaps impractical choices in many cases. Consequently, treatment options may vary based on distinct clinical scenarios, with no standardized guidelines available...

A complicated orthopaedic injury known as a comminuted distal femur fracture occurs when the lower portion of the femur bone breaks into several pieces close to the knee joint. Distal femur fractures are more commonly caused by injuries to the supracondylar and intercondylar regions. Managing comminuted distal femur fractures is a significant clinical challenge. The age of the patient, the condition of the bone, any concomitant injuries, and the level of comminution all influence the treatment plan. Handling distal femur fractures that have comminuted presents a major clinical challenge...

BACKGROUND: Large bone defects require complex treatment, multidisciplinary resources, and expert input, with surgical procedures ranging from reconstruction and salvage to amputation. The aim of this study was to provide the results of a case series of open comminuted intra-articular distal femoral fractures with significant bone loss that were managed by early fixation using anatomical plates and a modified Masquelet technique with the addition of surgical propylene mesh. METHODS: This retrospective study included all patients referred to our institution with OTA/AO C3 distal femur open fractures and meta-diaphyseal large bone loss between April 2019 and February 2021...

BACKGROUND: Malignant transformation of chronic osteomyelitis is extremely rare. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the most frequently reported malignancy, with a latency period of 20-50 years after the onset of osteomyelitis. CASE PRESENTATION: A 61-year-old man presented with recurrent discharge from the left distal thigh 30 years after open femur fracture. Histopathology showed SCC arising from chronic osteomyelitis with bone invasion. The patient initially declined amputation but eventually consented to transfemoral amputation after symptom recurrence...

Treatment options for distal femur fractures include open reduction internal fixation (ORIF), arthroplasty, or a hybrid of both. We present a 76 year old female with left knee pain secondary to known osteoarthritis, known lateral condyle insufficiency fracture, and an acute medial condyle fracture. In order to solve the acute and chronic problems in a single procedure, a combined ORIF and constrained condylar knee (CCK) arthroplasty was performed. Arthroplasty alone would have required a highly constrained distal femur replacement, and ORIF alone would have caused prolonged immobilization and continued morbidity from unaddressed chronic problems...

INTRODUCTION: Distal femur fractures (DFF) are common, especially in the elderly and high energy trauma patients. Lateral locked osteosynthesis constructs have been widely used, however non-union and implant failures are not uncommon. Recent literature advocates for the liberal use of supplemental medial plating to augment lateral locked constructs. However, there is a lack of proprietary medial plate options, with some authors supporting the use of repurposing expensive anatomic pre-contoured plates...

Introduction: Stress shielding is a common complication following endoprosthetic reconstruction surgery. The resulting periprosthetic osteopenia often manifests as catastrophic fractures and can significantly limit future treatment options. It has been long known that bone plates with lower elastic moduli are key to reducing the risk of stress shielding in orthopedics. Inclusion of open space lattices in metal endoprostheses is believed to reduce the prosthesis modulus potentially improving stress shielding...

INTRODUCTION: Distal femur fractures (DFF) are common injuries with significant morbidity. Surgical options include open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) with plates and/or intra-medullary devices or a distal femur endoprosthesis (DFR). A paucity of studies exist that compare the two modalities. The present study utilized a 1:2 propensity score match to compare 30-day outcomes of geriatric patients with distal femur fractures who underwent an ORIF or DFR. METHODS: The NSQIP data from 2008 to 2019 was utilized to identify all patients who sustained a DFF and underwent either ORIF or DFR...

OBJECTIVE: To investigate current practices among orthopaedic trauma surgeons in treating geriatric distal femur fractures and evaluate current postoperative weight-bearing recommendations. METHODS: A 26-question survey was emailed to Major Extremity Trauma Research Consortium surgeon members to characterize current practice with different fixation methods for distal femur fractures and the surgeon-directed postoperative weight-bearing recommendations for each approach...

BACKGROUND: A 32 year old patient who sustained an ipsilateral Gustilo Anderson 3C open fractures of the distal femur and tibia, following an MVA (Motor Vehicle Accident). The femoral shaft fracture had a 6 cm gap, which was spanned with a tibial diaphyseal autograft harvested from the amputated ipsilateral leg and stabilized with a retrograde intramedullary nail, thus enabling preservation of the knee joint and a functional weight bearing below knee prosthesis. CONCLUSION: Distal femur segmental gap reconstruction using ipsilateral amputated tibia in trauma setting was shown to be a feasible surgical technique...