BRIDGE PLATING OSTEOSYNTHESIS OF 20 COMMINUTED FRACTURES OF THE FEMUR

We retrospectively studied the outcome of 20 comminuted fractures (20 patients, 15 men) of the femur treated in accordance with the principl es of indirect reduction and biological osteosynthesis technique. The patients were followed for mean 1.5 (1-4.5) years. 11 fractures were s ubtrochanteric (type C), 6 complex diaphyseal and the remaining 3 were supracondylar (2 type C3 and 1 type A3); 3 fractures were open (type I, II, IIIA). Subtrochanteric fractures were treated with either 95 de grees dynamic condylar screw (DCS; 5 fractures) or with 135 degrees dy namic hip screw (DHS; 6 fractures). Autocompression plates (ACP) impla nts were chosen for diaphyseal fractures in 4 fractures, and a limited contact dynamic compression plate (LC/DCP) implant in 2. The 3 suprac ondylar fractures were treated with a 95 degrees DCS implant (1 fractu re) and the Condylar Buttress Plate (2 fractures). 11 fractures were b one grafted. There were no immediate postoperative complications. All fractures united on an average of 5 months, irrespective of use of bon e grafts. Late complications consisted of mild knee stiffness (4 patie nts) and 1-2 cm shortening (4 patients).