Dual-Plating in Distal Femur Fracture: A Systematic Review and Limited Meta-analysis

Locked plating has become a standard method to treat supracondylar femur fractures. Emerging evidence indicates that this method of treatment is associated with modest failure rates. The goals of this study were to determine risk factors for complications and to provide technical recommendations for locked plating of supracondylar femur fractures.

Between 1980 and 1989, reports on 2,165 fractures of the distal part of the femur (1,051 women and 1,114 men) were collected by AO Documentation and are analyzed in the present paper. The number of fractures showed a bimodal pattern with a marked variation in the number of fractures in relation to gender and age. A larger prevalence of fractures was observed either in young men (about 20 years old, traffic or sport) and in old women (about 70, fall at home, osteoporosis).

The diversity of surgical options for the management of distal femoral fractures reflects the challenges inherent in these injuries. These fractures are frequently comminuted and intra-articular, and they often involve osteoporotic bone, which makes it difficult to reduce and hold them while maintaining joint function and overall limb alignment. Surgery has become the standard of care for displaced fractures and for patients who must obtain rapid return of knee function. The goal of surgical management is to promote early knee motion while restoring the articular surface, maintaining limb length and alignment, and preserving the soft-tissue envelope with a durable fixation that allows functional recovery during bone healing. A variety of surgical exposures, techniques, and implants has been developed to meet these objectives, including intramedullary nailing, screw fixation, and periarticular locked plating, possibly augmented with bone fillers. Recognition of the indications and applications of the principles of modern implants and techniques is fundamental in achieving optimal outcomes.