Publication:

Study of functional outcome of muller type C distal femur fracture treated with locking compression plate

Background To evaluate the functional outcome of Muller type C distal femur fracture treated with locking compression plate (LCP).

Methods This prospective study was carried out at Al-Ameen medical college and hospital, Vijayapura. Forty patients (24 males and 16 females) with Muller type C distal femur fractures were enrolled in our study. Patients were treated with open reduction and internal fixation with LCP. They were followed up for 9 months with clinical examination and serial x-rays. The functional outcome was evaluated using Neer’s scoring system.

Results Forty patients who completed follow up of 9 months were included. There were 18 muller type C1, 14 muller type C2 and 8 Muller type C3 fractures. The functional evaluation with Neer’s scoring system was excellent in 8 patients, good in 20 patients, fair in 8 patients and poor in 4 patients. Complications observed were difficulty in reduction, superficial infections, knee stiffness and limb length discrepancy.

Conclusions The LCP is a safe and effective tool to manage these difficult fractures as we had no incidence of implant failure, delayed union, non-union and revision surgery except that we had knee stiffness as commonest complication which can be tackled by early surgery, surgical expertise, meticulous soft tissue handling and vigorous early knee mobilisation.