Evaluating the functional outcomes of tibia and ipsilateral femur fracture, which are floating knee injuries, in adults

Abstract

Background: High velocity trauma leads to ipsilateral femur and tibia fractures. Despite being very uncommon, they have a significant morbidity rate. Combinations of diaphyseal, metaphyseal, and complicated intra-articular fractures may be present in this kind of injury. Objectives were to assess the functional success of adult patients with ipsilateral femur and tibia fractures treated with various methods. Methods: The 30 adult patients with floating knee injuries underwent surgical treatment as part of the prospective research at the department of orthopedics, govt. medical college, and affiliated group of institutions in Kota. A combination of implants, such as an intra-medullary nail, locking plates, screws, or external fixators, were used to treat both femur and tibia fractures. Results: Karlstrom-Olerud criteria were used for the final evaluation. In our study, five patients (16.6%) had excellent outcomes, ten (33.3%) had good results, seven (23.3%), had acceptable results, and eight (26.6%) had poor results. Conclusions: When the fracture is diaphysis and it is treated with intra-medullary nails for both the femur and the tibia, the results are excellent. In this way, the age of the patient, the kind of fracture, the methods of fracture fixation, and the functional result were all taken into account.