Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41994725›Full record

ArticleCureus2026

Functional and Radiological Outcomes of Distal Femur Fractures Treated With a Combination of Supracondylar Nails and Lateral Condylar Locking Plates.

Nilesh Joshi, Darshan Sharma, Shantanu Deshkmukh, Sushil Mankar, Pallav P Agrawal, Kaustubh Zodey, Adilagna Das, Prithveesh Narang, Pranav Datta

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Cureus, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Nilesh JoshiOrthopaedics and Traumatology, N. K. P. Salve Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre and Lata Mangeshkar Hospital, Nagpur, IND.
Darshan SharmaOrthopaedics and Traumatology, N. K. P. Salve Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre and Lata Mangeshkar Hospital, Nagpur, IND.
Shantanu DeshkmukhOrthopaedic Surgery, N. K. P. Salve Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre and Lata Mangeshkar Hospital, Nagpur, IND.
Sushil MankarOrthopaedics and Traumatology, N. K. P. Salve Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre and Lata Mangeshkar Hospital, Nagpur, IND.
Pallav P AgrawalOrthopaedics and Traumatology, N. K. P. Salve Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre and Lata Mangeshkar Hospital, Nagpur, IND.
Kaustubh ZodeyOrthopaedics, N. K. P. Salve Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre and Lata Mangeshkar Hospital, Nagpur, IND.
Adilagna DasOrthopaedics and Traumatology, N. K. P. Salve Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre and Lata Mangeshkar Hospital, Nagpur, IND.
Prithveesh NarangMedicine and Surgery, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Alwar, IND.
Pranav DattaOrthopaedics and Traumatology, N. K. P. Salve Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre and Lata Mangeshkar Hospital, Nagpur, IND.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Introduction Distal femur fractures are associated with significant morbidity, particularly in elderly patients, and achieving stable fixation that permits early mobilization remains challenging. The nail-plate construct (NPC) combines the biomechanical advantages of intramedullary nailing and lateral locking plate fixation and may provide improved stability and functional outcomes. Methods This prospective observational study evaluated adult patients with acute distal femur fractures treated using an NPC at a tertiary care center. Thirty-two patients were included and subgrouped based on age (<65 years and ≥65 years). Radiological union and malunion at one-year follow-up were the primary outcomes. Secondary outcomes included postoperative mobilization, length of hospital stay, complications, and patient-reported outcomes measured using the EuroQol five-dimension five-level (EQ-5D-5L) questionnaire. Results The median age of the cohort was 70.5 years (range: 30-91), with the majority aged ≥65 years. Low-energy mechanisms accounted for 28 (87.5%) of fractures, and 30 (93.8%) were closed injuries. At one-year follow-up, radiographic union was achieved in all patients, with no cases of malunion or implant failure. Early postoperative mobilisation was feasible across age groups. The mean EQ-5D-5L index value demonstrated favourable functional recovery, with most patients reporting no or only slight problems with mobility, self-care, and usual activities. Postoperative complications occurred predominantly in the elderly subgroup, with a small proportion requiring reoperation. Conclusion NPC fixation for acute distal femur fractures resulted in excellent radiological union, early mobilization, and favorable patient-reported outcomes at one year. This technique appears to provide stable fixation that supports early rehabilitation, particularly in elderly patients. Larger comparative studies with longer follow-up are required to further define its role relative to isolated fixation methods.

Indexed as

distal femur fractureintramedullary nailing (imn)locking plate fixationnail-plate constructpatient-reported outcomes (pros)

Identifiers

PMID41994725
PMCPMC13080954

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.