title: Treatment options for fractures of the distal femur.
abstract: The correct use of the available implants is technically demanding, but the technique can be mastered if the surgeon follows a methodical approach to developing skills and confidence. If facilities are available, practice on artificial bones will improve your understanding of the instruments and your skills, as will assisting on as many cases as possible with experienced surgeons. Begin with relatively simple fractures and progress gradually to the more difficult ones. In order to achieve a good result with surgical treatment of distal femur fractures, the basic principles developed by the AO/ASIF must be followed: good preoperative planning careful surgical technique; accurate anatomic reduction; stable internal fixation; bone grafting of any defects; and early, active rehabilitation.
authors.affiliation: University of Texas, Southwestern Medical School, Dallas, USA.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mize
mesh_terms: D001858:Bone Nails; D001860:Bone Plates; D016267:External Fixators; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D005592:Fracture Fixation / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D011182:Postoperative Care