Nail Plate Construct shows effective fixation and immediate weightbearing post-operatively

Distal femur fractures are most common traumatic injuries in young people and osteopenic females accounting for 3.6% of femur fractures and less than 1% of all fractures. The fracture is characterized in the region extending from the distal metaphyseal-diaphyseal junction to the articular surface of the femoral condyles.

Common treatment practices are lateral locking plate or intramedullary nail fixation, with disadvantages including risk of non and malunion and limited post-operative weightbearing status. According to a new study in Orthopaedic Surgery suggests combining both techniques as a nail-plate construct (NPC) achieves enhanced fixation to allow immediate weightbearing. The NPC provided stable fixation permitting full weightbearing post-operatively with no cases of non or malunion.

Investigators conducted a single-center retrospective study including all patients >18 years who sustained distal femur fractures treated with NPC. Primary outcomes were radiographic union, malunion and patient reported outcome measures at minimum 1-year follow-up. Secondary outcome measures included post-operative mobility, length of stay and complications. Relevant variables of normality are reported as mean with standard deviation. Subgroup analysis of patients aged <65 and ≥65 years are provided.