ArticleJournal of trauma and injury2025
Dual plating in the management of nonunion complex distal femur fractures following lateral locked plate fixation: radiological and functional outcomes of a prospective study.
Article in Journal of trauma and injury, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Does dual-plating offer superior stability in complex distal femoral fracture management?Journal of orthopaedic surgery and research · 2026Observational
- Nonunion in Long Bone Fractures: A Comprehensive Review of Current Treatment Strategies.Cureus · 2025Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
purposeManaging complex distal femur fractures presents technical challenges. Although the lateral locked plate has become standard for these fractures, failures are not uncommon when this device is used alone. Patients with nonunion of distal femur fractures following treatment with a single lateral locked plate were examined. Revision surgery was performed by applying dual plates, and their efficiency was evaluated.
methodsThis study investigated 24 aseptic and 3 septic nonunions of distal femur fractures, classified as AO/OTA type C, that were previously managed with open reduction and internal fixation using only a lateral locked plate. Revision surgery involved replacing the broken 5.0-mm lateral locked plate, supplementing the medial side with a 4.5-mm T-plate, and applying bone grafting at the fracture site. Septic cases were managed using a staged approach with dual implant application.
resultsFollowing revision surgery, bony union was achieved in 83.3% of aseptic nonunions, with a mean bone healing time of 22.5 weeks (range, 15-27 weeks). Additional surgery was required for the remaining 16.6%. Using staged management, the septic nonunions were united in a mean of 30.25 weeks (range, 27-32 weeks). Significant improvements were noted in the Tegner Lysholm Knee Scoring Scale, with median preoperative and postoperative scores of 30 (range, 12-67) and 80 (range, 66-90), respectively (P<0.001). Limb pain, as measured by the visual analog scale for knee pain, improved significantly from a preoperative median of 6 (range, 4-8) to 3 (range, 1-6) postoperatively (P<0.001). All patients were ambulatory without supportive devices. However, the mean knee range of motion was 80° (range, 40°-120°). Limb shortening was observed in six cases (22.2%; average shortening, 2.3±1.0 cm).
conclusionsDual plating appears to be an effective approach for managing failed complex distal femur fractures following initial treatment with a single lateral locked plate.
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