Above-knee Ilizarov external fixation for early periprosthetic supracondylar femoral fracture—a case report

• Published in: The knee Vol. 12; no. 2; pp. 145 - 147
• Main Authors: Hurson, C., Synnott, K., McCormack, D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.04.2005; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee; External Fixators; Female; Femoral; Femoral Fractures - diagnostic imaging; Femoral Fractures - surgery; Fracture; Humans; Ilizarov; Ilizarov Technique; Knee Prosthesis; Middle Aged; Periprosthetic; Postoperative Complications; Radiography; Range of Motion, Articular; Supracondylar; Treatment Outcome; Supracondylar; Periprosthetic; Fracture; Ilizarov; Femoral
• ISSN: 0968-0160; 1873-5800
• DOI: 10.1016/j.knee.2004.06.005

Supracondylar femoral fractures above a total knee replacement are rare injuries that may be challenging to treat. We present a 60-year-old woman who sustained a supracondylar femoral fracture 10 days following a total knee replacement. This patient had multiple risk factors. The fracture was not deemed amenable to conventional treatment. This patient underwent fixation of her femoral fracture above a total knee replacement using a two-ring above-knee Ilizarov external fixator. This allowed full mobilization of the affected limb during fracture healing. The fixator was removed at 10 weeks, at which time the fracture was solidly healed. At the most recent follow-up, 14 months from injury, she was fully weight-bearing without walking aids and had a knee range of motion of 0–120°.