Skip to main content
Log in

Management of a nonunion of the distal femur in osteoporotic bone with the internal fixation system LISS (less invasive stabilization system)

  • Case Report
  • Published:
Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We present a case illustrating the successful use of the internal fixation LISS in an osteoporotic nonunion of the distal femur, where classic osteosynthesis has failed. The LISS plate with its angular stability offered the possibility to achieve excellent purchase in the severely porotic and partially destroyed bone. In combination with the use of an autologeous bone graft laterally and a strut cortical autograft medially, a mechanical support and an osteoinductive stimulus was provided and the extremity could be saved by this procedure.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Ali F Saleh M (2002) Treatment of distal femoral nonunions by external fixation with simultaneous length and alignment correction. Injury 33(2):127–134

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Beall MS Jr, Nebel E, Bailey RW (1979) Transarticular fixation in the treatment of non-union of supracondylar fractures of the femur: a salvage procedure. J Bone Joint Surg Am 61(7):1018–1023

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Bellabarba C, Ricci WM, Bolhofner BR (2002) Indirect reduction and plating of distal femoral nonunions. J Orthop Trauma 16(5):287–296

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Chandler HP, King D, Limbird R, Hedley A, McCarthy J, Penenberg B, Danylchuk K (1993) The use of cortical allograft struts for fixation of fractures associated with well-fixed total joint prostheses. Semin Arthroplasty 4(2):99–107

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Chapman MW Finkemeier CG (1999) Treatment of supracondylar nonunions of the femur with plate fixation and bone graft. J Bone Joint Surg Am 81(9):1217–1228

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Frigg R, Appenzeller A, Christensen R, Frenk A, Gilbert S, Schavan R (2001) The development of the distal femur less invasive stabilization system (LISS). Injury 32(Suppl 3):SC24–SC31

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Helfet DL Lorich DG (1998) Retrograde intramedullary nailing of supracondylar femoral fractures. Clin Orthop Relat Res 350:80–84

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Jean JL, Wang SJ, Au MK (1997) Treatment of a large segmental bone defect with allograft and autogenous bone marrow graft. J Formos Med Assoc 96(7):553–557

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Karnezis IA, Miles AW, Cunningham JL, Learmonth ID (1998) “Biological” internal fixation of long bone fractures: a biomechanical study of a “noncontact” plate system. Injury 29(9):689–695

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Koval KJ, Seligson D, Rosen H, Fee K (1995) Distal femoral nonunion: treatment with a retrograde inserted locked intramedullary nail. J Orthop Trauma 9(4):285–291

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Moore TJ, Watson T, Green SA, Garland DE, Chandler RW (1987) Complications of surgically treated supracondylar fractures of the femur. J Trauma 27(4):402–406

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Perren SM (2002) Evolution of the internal fixation of long bone fractures. The scientific basis of biological internal fixation: choosing a new balance between stability and biology. J Bone Joint Surg Br 84(8):1093–1110

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Sanders RA, Sackett JR (1990) Open reduction and internal fixation of delayed union and nonunion of the distal humerus. J Orthop Trauma 4(3):254–259

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Schandelmaier P, Partenheimer A, Koenemann B, Grun OA, Krettek C (2001) Distal femoral fractures and LISS stabilization. Injury 32(Suppl 3):SC55–SC63

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Schutz M, Sudkamp NP (2003) Revolution in plate osteosynthesis: new internal fixator systems. J Orthop Sci 8(2):252–258

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Schutz M, Muller M, Krettek C, Hontzsch D, Regazzoni P, Ganz R, Haas N (2001) Minimally invasive fracture stabilization of distal femoral fractures with the LISS: a prospective multicenter study. Results of a clinical study with special emphasis on difficult cases. Injury 32(Suppl 3):SC48–SC54

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Schutz M, Muller M, Regazzoni P, Hontzsch D, Krettek C, Van der Werken C, Haas N (2005) Use of the less invasive stabilization system (LISS) in patients with distal femoral (AO33) fractures: a prospective multicenter study. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 125(2):102–108

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Ueng SW, Chao EK, Lee SS, Shih CH (1997) Augmentative plate fixation for the management of femoral nonunion after intramedullary nailing. J Trauma 43(4):640–644

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Wang JW, Weng LH (2003) Treatment of distal femoral nonunion with internal fixation, cortical allograft struts, and autogenous bone-grafting. J Bone Joint Surg Am 85-A(3):436–440

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Wu CC, Shih CH (1991) Distal femoral nonunion treated with interlocking nailing. J Trauma 31(12):1659–1662

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yasmin D. Hailer.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hailer, Y.D., Hoffmann, R. Management of a nonunion of the distal femur in osteoporotic bone with the internal fixation system LISS (less invasive stabilization system). Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 126, 350–353 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-006-0102-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-006-0102-0

Keywords

Navigation