Abstract
Purpose
To compare results of minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis using a locking compression plate and a periarticular locking plate in distal femur fractures.
Materials and Methods
We retrospectively reviewed 31 consecutive femoral fractures who treated by minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis from April 2006 to May 2009. Sixteen patients were treated using a locking compression plate (group A) and 15 patients were treated using a periarticular locking plate (group B).
Results
The mean operation time was 78 minutes and 76 minutes (p=0.273), and the mean radiation exposure time was 1.9 minutes and 2.3 minutes (p=0.001) in the group A and B, respectively. The plate bending during operation was performed in 4 cases of group A. The knee range of motion was 117.5° and 118.2° (p=0.825), and the Lysholm score was 81.3 and 81.8 (p=0.723) in the group A and B, respectively. Schazker criteria showed more than good grade in 93.8% of group A and in 93.3% of group B (p=1.0).
Figures and Tables
![]() | Fig. 1
(A) Patients were placed supine and the uninjured leg was in the lowered position for fluoroscopy.
(B) Supracondylar towel bumps made of rolled surgical towels were placed in the area posterior to the supracondylar region.
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![]() | Fig. 2
(A) For the locking compression plate in distal femur procedure, we used a guiding block for distal fixation.
(B) For the Zimmer® periarticular locking plate procedure, a Jig system was used.
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![]() | Fig. 3The coronal fracture fragment angle was defined as the angle between the line of the femoral shaft and the distal intercondylar line. |
![]() | Fig. 4A 72-year-old woman presented with an AO/OTA type C3 distal femoral fracture on the (A) anterior-posterior and lateral view and (B) 3-dimensional computed tomography.
(C) The fracture was treated with minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis with locking compression plate in distal femur.
(D) The fracture had healed at 19 weeks after the operation.
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![]() | Fig. 5A 51-year-old man presented with an AO/OTA type C2 distal femoral fracture on the (A) anterior-posterior and lateral view and (B) 3-dimensional computed tomography.
(C) The fracture was treated with minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis with Zimmer® periarticular locking plate.
(D) The fracture was healed at 18 weeks after the operation.
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![]() | Fig. 6The distal locking screw penetrated the medial femoral cortex in the (A) locking compression plate in distal femur group and (B) Zimmer® periarticular locking plate (ZPLP) group. However, only the ZPLP group complained of pain by screw irritation. |
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