Distal femoral fracture through the screw hole of a ligament augmentation device fixation

Complications associated with fixation of artificial ligaments in augmented repair of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) have been reported througho ut the literature. However, fractures following ligament augmentation devic e (LAD) fixation appear to be rare. We report the case of a 43-year-old wom an, injured in a road accident, who sustained a depressed fracture of the t ibial plateau and knee instability. The fracture was reduced and the medial collateral ligament and the menisci were sutured. The torn ACL was repaire d using the Marshall technique and augmented with an LAD in an over-the-top technique. Twenty-five months postoperatively, the patient sustained a dis tal femoral fracture through the screw hole of the former LAD fixation afte r a simple fall on the street.