[Flexible internal fixation with locking plate for distal femoral fractures].

Objective: To analyze the effectiveness of flexible internal fixation with locking plate for distal femoral fractures.

Methods: Between January 2015 and June 2016, 21 cases of distal femoral fractures were treated. There were 5 males and 16 females with an average age of 62 years (range, 32-88 years). Injury was caused by falling in 14 cases, by traffic accident in 5 cases, and by falling from height in 2 cases. The fractures located at the left side in 13 cases and the right side in 8 cases. Twenty cases were fresh closed fractures and 1 case was open fracture. According to AO/Association for the Study of Internal Fixation (AO/OTA) typing, there were 5 cases of type 33-A1, 3 of type 33-A2, 8 of type 33-A3, 2 of type 33-C2, and 3 of type 33-C3. The time from injury to operation was 3-13 days (mean, 6.5 days).

Results: All operation incisions healed primarily. Eighteen patients were followed up 12-24 months (mean, 16 months). All fractures healed, and the healing time was 8-24 weeks (mean, 16.6 weeks). The articular surface was smooth and the thigh length was recovered. No screw loosening, plate breakage, valgus or varus of the knee, stiff of the knee or non-unions occurred during follow-up. There was no significant difference in visual analogue scale (VAS) score between at 6 and 12 months after operation ( P >0.05), and the difference was significant bewteen the other time points ( P <0.05). There were significant differences in the range of motion of knee between 1 month and 3, 6, 12 months ( P <0.05); there was no significant difference between 3, 6, and 12 months ( P >0.05). There were significant differences in the Neer scores between 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after operation ( P <0.05). According to Neer score criteria, the results were excellent in 12 cases and good in 6 cases at 12 months after operation.

Conclusion: Flexible internal fixation with locking plate for distal femoral fractures can get good functional recovery.