ArticleEuropean journal of orthopaedic surgery & traumatology : orthopedie traumatologie2025
Nail plate construct in complex distal femur fractures allow safe, early unrestricted weight bearing with high rates of union and a low rate of failure: five-year experience at a UK major trauma centre.
Article in European journal of orthopaedic surgery & traumatology : orthopedie traumatologie, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
purposeDistal femur fractures are challenging to manage and fixation with intramedullary nails or plates alone can fail. Linked nail plate constructs (NPC) are increasingly used for complex cases. This five-year review from a UK major trauma centre reports indications and patient outcomes.
methodsPatients treated for a distal femoral fracture with a NPC between 1st January 2020 and 1st January 2025 were identified. Patient demographics, mechanism of injury, fracture classification, procedural characteristics, postoperative weight-bearing status, union rates, complications and mortality were recorded.
resultsThirty-two patients were identified with a mean age of 70 years (20 to 98). Twenty-four (75%) patients were female with a median ASA of 3. There were five (16%) open fractures and ten (31%) peri-prosthetic fractures. Eight (25%) NPCs were revision operations following failure of primary fixation. All operations were performed by at least one consultant. In total, 31 (97%) patients were permitted unrestricted weight bearing postoperatively. Clinical union was achieved in 25 (96%) of 26 patients available for follow-up. There were no significant complications. Mortality rate at 30 days, 3 months and 12 months was 6%, 6% and 16%, respectively.
conclusionsThis study supports the use of nail plate construct (NPC) in the management of both primary and revision surgery for complex distal femoral fractures. Among 32 patients with a mean age of 70 years, NPC permitted immediate unrestricted weight bearing (97%) with a high rate of union (96%) and a low complication and mortality rates. These findings highlight NPC as an effective option for managing complex distal femur fractures.
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