Nail-Plate Combination Fixation for Periprosthetic Distal Femoral Fractures Allows Early Weight-Bearing with Low Reoperation and Revision Rates.

Abstract

A combination retrograde femoral intramedullary nail (IMN) and locking plate for periprosthetic distal femoral fractures (PDFF) may offer improved construct strength and early weight-bearing versus locked plating constructs or intramedullary nail (IMN) fixation. This study compared clinical and radiographic outcomes in PDFF treatment with nail-plate combination (NPC), locked plating, or IMN. Patients aged ≥ 18 years undergoing PDFF surgery between January 1, 2015, and April 1, 2024, at three institutions were retrospectively identified. Patients were included with NPC, locked plate only (i.e., single-plate, dual-plate, or triple-plate), or isolated IMN. There were 78 patients who had 79 PDFFs (Orthopaedic Trauma Association (OTA)/ Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Osteosynthesefragen (AO) 33A-C) (Su and Associates' Classification types I = 38, II = 27, III = 14). The median age was 79 years (range, 41 to 95), and 77.2% were women. Constructs included 42 locking plates (53.2%), 24 NPCs (30.4%), and 13 isolated IMNs (16.4%). The locking plate cohort included 21 single plates (50.0%), 17 dual plates (40.5%), and four triple plates (9.5%). The mean follow-up was 18.0 months (range, 0.2 to 104.3). Postoperatively, 79.2% of patients who were treated with NPC were immediately weight-bearing as tolerated versus 40.0% of all other constructs (P < 0.001). There were no significant differences between subgroups of fixation in terms of two-year survivorship free of all-cause unplanned reoperation (NPC 91.0%, single implant constructs 85.0%, all dual or triple plates 76.0%, single plate construct 78.0%, all plate constructs 77.0%, P > 0.05). Nail-plate combination for PDFFs was associated with low reoperation and revision rates. These constructs may provide an advantage of earlier weight-bearing in PDFF patients versus other constructs without compromising union.