title: Varus collapse of comminuted distal femur fractures after open reduction and internal fixation with a lateral condylar buttress plate.
abstract: Twenty-six comminuted distal femur fractures treated with a lateral condylar buttress plate were followed up until fracture union or implant revision (mean follow-up, 26 months). Mean postoperative angle (medial distal femoral angle immediately after surgery) was 96 degrees, and mean final angle (angle at fracture healing or implant revision) was 91 degrees (P = .06). Distal femoral angle decreased 5 degrees or less in 15 patients, 6 degrees to 10 degrees in 8 patients, and more than 10 degrees in 3 patients. Final distal femoral angle was 90 degrees or less in 13 of the 26 fractures: 38% of these 13 fractures required reconstruction for nonunion, malunion, or knee arthrosis. The lateral condylar buttress plate, which is not a fixed-angle device, allowed more than 5 degrees of varus collapse to occur in 42% of the comminuted distal femur fractures.
authors.affiliation: Grant Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio, USA.
authors.forename: Brian L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Davison
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001860:Bone Plates; D005260:Female; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000295:instrumentation*; D018460:Fractures, Comminuted / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007085:Ilium / Q000637:transplantation; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011859:Radiography; D016896:Treatment Outcome