External Fixation of Supracondylar Fractures of the Femur after Total Knee Arthroplasty

• Published in: Orthopedics & Traumatology Vol. 45; no. 1; pp. 214 - 217
• Main Authors: Taguchi, Manabu, Mizuta, Hiroshi, Kubota, Kenji, Shiraishi, Minoru, Nagamoto, Noriyoshi, Mizumoto, Yoshihiko, Otsuka, Yutaka, Nakamura, Eiichi, Takagi, Katsumasa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: West-Japanese Society of Orthopedics & Traumatology 1996
• Subjects: external fixation; Supracondylar fracture of the femur; total knee arthroplasty
• ISSN: 0037-1033; 1349-4333
• DOI: 10.5035/nishiseisai.45.214

Supracondylar fracture of the femur after total knee arthroplasty is a serious complication and the management for this complication is controversial. We have experienced two cases using external fixation to treat this fracture. Both patients had osteopenia and we could not find surgical encroachment of the anterior femoral cortex. Activities of daily living of these patients returned to prefracture level following treatment. The external fexation allows early range-of-motion exercises at the knee without the need for prolonged bed rest and extensive surgical exposure. We concluded that this technique is useful for treating this fracture.