Treatment of ipsilateral fractures of the distal femur and femoral shaft.

Abstract

Thirteen patients with segmental fractures involving the distal femur and femoral shaft were treated with internal fixation. Nine of the distal femur fractures were intraarticular. Priority was given to restoration of the articular surface and the alignment of the distal femur. No single method of fixation could be used for all patients. Nine patients were treated using plate fixation with one or more plates. Three patients were treated with a combination of an interlocked intramedullary nail and lag screw fixation. One patient was treated with Ender nails. All the fractures eventually healed, but the recovery time was long. Although no patient was asymptomatic, 10 have resumed their preinjury level of function.