Distal Femoral Fractures

The distal femoral fractures include supracondylar fractures, intercondylar fractures, and their combinations. As in most articular and juxta-articular fractures, operative treatment gives the best clinical result by achieving anatomical reduction of the articular fractures and providing early skeletal stability, which leads to early mobilization and return of joint function. The commonest method of treating these fractures is open reduction with internal fixation by plating [1–3, 8–10]. The open procedure requires a long incision with extensive dissection, which not infrequently results in devitalization of the fracture fragments. Bone grafting is required in fractures with comminution, which typically happens on the medial side of the distal femur where mechanical stability cannot be restored by lateral plating. This very often leads to delay in weight-bearing walking before the fracture consolidates and also leads to implant failure.