Short Term Analysis of the Functional and Radiological Outcome of Distal Femoral Fractures Fixed with Locking Compression Plate by Minimally Invasive Plate Osteosynthesis (MIPO) Technique

Abstract

Background: Fractures of distal femur are very complex injuries and there is significant difficulty to manage. These injuries are severe and have a potential to produce long term disability. These fractures often are unstable and comminuted and tend to occur in elderly or multiply-injured patients. The fractures of distal femur account for 7% of all femoral fractures. If Hip fractures are excluded, 31% of fractures involve the distal femur. The fractures involving distal 15 cm of femur including distal femoral metaphysis (supracondylar) and articular surface (intercondylar) are classified as distal femur fractures [1]. Distal femur fractures exhibits bimodal age distribution. In young adults it occurs due to high velocity trauma like road traffic accidents. These patients often sustain multiple and compound injuries. Older patients sustain distal femur fractures mostly due to trivial fall occurring in elderly osteoporotic bone. In 1960’s most of these fractures were treated conservatively and documented better outcome than operative treatment. But with the advent of newer implants and modern techniques, these fractures are best treated with surgical stabilization. The newer modalities of treatment include minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis (MIPO) and Less invasive skeletal stabilization (LISS). Aim of this study: To evaluate twenty cases of distal femur fractures fixed with locking compression plate by minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis (MIPO) technique in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at SCB Medical College and Hospital, Odisha between July 2018 to November 2020. To prospectively analyse the clinical and radiological outcome of the above procedure. Keywords: Minimally Invasive Plate Osteosynthesis (MIPO), Distal Femoral Fractures, Radiological Outcome, Locking Compression Plate