Outcomes of Combined Distal Femur Plating and Retrograde Femur Nailing in Comminuted Distal Femur Fractures: Case Series of Seven Cases with 6 Months Follow-up.

Abstract

Introduction: This study evaluates the functional outcomes of combining distal femur plating with retrograde femur nailing in treating comminuted distal femur fractures.

Case report: A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients treated at a tertiary health care center from January 1, 2023, to November 30, 2023. The cohort comprised patients with an average age of 54.57 years (standard deviation [SD] = 13.34) and a male-to-female ratio of 3:4. The primary outcome measure was knee range of motion (ROM). At the 1.5-month follow-up, the average knee flexion was 54° (SD = 13.46). This improved to 110° (SD = 8.7) at 3 months and to 138.6° (SD = 7.34) at the 6-month follow-up. These findings indicate significant improvement in knee function over the study period. All patients showed union at fracture sites at the end of 6 months.

Conclusions: The combination of distal femur plating and retrograde femur nailing demonstrates promising functional recovery in knee ROM for patients with comminuted distal femur fractures. This surgical approach may offer an effective strategy for enhancing post-operative outcomes in this patient population.