The supracondylar intramedullary nail in elderly patients with distal femoral fractures

From February 1994 until July 1997, a prospective study of all elderly pati ents with a displaced distal femoral fracture, who were treated with an int ramedullary supracondylar nail, was made. The outcome of 31 fractures in 30 elderly patients was studied. The average age was 82 years (55-98). Two-th irds of the patients had had previous ipsilateral femoral pathology. Averag e acute hospital stay was 17 days. All patients were reviewed at 6 months a nd all cases have been followed for over 1 year. More than 90% of surviving fractures had healed within 6 months of the operation. Outcome scores were , 22 (85%) excellent or satisfactory, 2 (7.5%) unsatisfactory and 2 (7.5%) failures. The mortality rate was 17% at 6 months and 30% at 1 year, which i s similar to patients with a fractured neck of femur. This nail is recommen ded for its versatility and favourable outcome scores in this age group. (C ) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.