A prospective study of functional outcome of comminuted metaphyseal distal femur fracture treated with lateral locking compression plate and medial augmentation with TENS

Abstract

Background: Distal femur fractures are complex injuries producing long term disability and present considerable challenges in management. These fractures poses challenges to the treating surgeon because of thin cortex of the femoral condyles, wide medullary canal, relative osteopenia, short condylar fragment and comminution involving articular surface. Distal femur fracture disrupts normal knee joint functioning, hence needed anatomical reduction and stable internal fixation to prevent crippling disabilities and hardware failure. Objective: To evaluate the functional and radiological outcome of comminuted metaphyseal fracture of distal femur treated by Lateral locking compression plate and medial TENS nail using NEER’S score. Methods: In this study, 20 cases of comminuted metaphyseal fracture of distal femur were operated between November 2018 to April 2020 with distal femur lateral locking compression plate and medial augmentation with tens nail. Patients were selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria and were followed up for 12 months. The results were analysed with NEER’S score. Results: Out of 20 patients with comminuted metaphseal distal femur fractures AO-Muller type A3 -subtypes 15 and C2 subtypes 5 patients were studied. Mean age of the patients was 45.5 years with age ranging from 20 years to 80 years. Right sided fractures were predominant. In 65% cases mode of injury was road traffic accident and rest were self-fall. 2 cases were operated under MIPPO technique and rest all were operated on with standard open lateral approach. Average surgical procedure timing was 119.5 minutes in our study. Average duration of radiological union was 18.6 weeks and average duration of weight bearing was 20.5 weeks. Complications such as superficial wound infection, knee pain and stiffness were observed in 9 patients. The NEER’S score was excellent in 45%, good-fair in 50% and 5% poor outcome. Conclusion: Comminuted distal femur fracture needs dual column fixation to achieve bone healing and restore function of the affected limb in shortest time without compromising stability. The advantage medial augmentation with TENS is active range of motion can be started earlier, stable internal fixation that does not allow varus collapse, mal-union and further implant failure.