Functional Outcome of Close Supracondyler and Intercondyler Fracture Femur Treated by Locking Femoral Plates

Abstract

Background: Distal fracture of femur present a huge surgical challenge in orthopedic surgery. These fractures are difficult to treat and operative treatment is usually recommended for favorable outcome. These are associated with high energy trauma (in the youngsters) and osteoporotic bones (in the elderly) and are frequently comminuted and intra-articular. This study was conducted to determine functional outcome of locking plate fixation in our population. Objective: To determine functional outcome of close supracondyler and intercondyler fracture femur treated by locking femoral plate at a tertiary care hospital. Material and Methods: A total of 64 consecutive patients with supracondylar, intercondyler fracture femur duration less than 6 weeks were taken in this study from department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Nishtar Hospital Multan. All the relevant information was collected and noted in the study proforma and these patients were managed as per hospital protocols and were treated by locking femoral plates. These study cases were followed for their functional outcome such as union of fracture and complications. Results: Of these 64 study cases, 24 (37.5%) were male patients while 40 (62.5%) were female patients. Mean age of our study cases was noted to be 46.80 ± 8.08 years. Mean BMI of our study cases was noted to be 23.08 ± 1.80 kg/m². Our study results have indicated that majority of our study cases i.e. 73.4% were normal weight, 11 (17.2%) were overweight and 6 (9.4%) were obese. Mean duration of fracture was 2.48 ± 1.33 weeks. Mean duration of surgery was 65.86 ± 12.29 minutes and mean duration of hospital stay was noted to be 7.22 ± 1.33 days. Union of fracture was noted in 57 (89.1%) of our study cases while DVT was noted in 12 (18.8%) of our study cases. Conclusion: There was high frequency of union of fracture observed in our study. Our study results support the use of locking femoral plate fixation in functional outcome of supraconduler and intercondyler fracture of femur as it is safe and reliable. Union of fracture was significantly associated with obesity and type of fracture while DVT was significantly associated with male gender, type of fracture and history of smoking.

Keywords:Supracondyler, Intercondyler, locking plate fixation.