title: Surgical management of ipsilateral fracture of the femur and tibia in adults (the floating knee): postoperative clinical, radiological, and functional outcomes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study evaluated the outcomes of surgical management of ipsilateral femoral and tibial fractures in adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen patients (13 men, 2 women; mean age, 34.8 years; range, 18 to 65 years) were enrolled in this study. The fractures types were classified according to the classification by Fraser et al. as follows: type I (5), type IIa (3), IIb (4), IIc (3). Femur fractures were treated using locked intramedullary nails, plate-screws, or dynamic condylar screws, and tibia fractures were treated with an external fixator (in open fractures), or plate-screws, and locked intramedullary nailing. The mean follow-up duration was 2.2 years (range, 1.3 to 4 years).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The extent of bony union according to the Karlstrom criteria was as follows: excellent, 8; good, 4; acceptable, 2; poor, 1.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The associated injuries and type of fracture (open, intra-articular, comminution) are prognostic factors in a floating knee. The best management of the associated injuries for good final outcome involves intramedullary nailing of both the fractures and postoperative rehabilitation.
authors.affiliation: Orthopedic Surgery Department, Zagazig University Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig, Egypt. alaa58hegazy@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Alaa M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Hegazy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005594:Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D009984:Orthopedic Fixation Devices; D011379:Prognosis; D011859:Radiography; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult