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Locking plate may have no advantage vs non-locking device for distal femoral fractures
In the management of distal femoral fractures, a locking plate design had no advantages over a standard non-locking bicortical fixation device, according to the results of this prospective, multicenter randomized controlled study.
Researchers randomly assigned 52 patients with distal femoral fractures to be treated with either the locked Less Invasive Stabilization System (Synthes) or the dynamic condylar screw. Primary outcomes included time to radiological union and the number of delayed/nonunions at 12 months, while secondary outcomes included postoperative function and complications.
When it came to the number of fractures healed, time to union or functional scores, results showed no statistically significant differences between the Less Invasive Stabilization System and the dynamic condylar screw groups. Researchers found the Less Invasive Stabilization System group experienced more complications and revisions. Compared with one reoperation in the dynamic condylar screw group, seven patients underwent reoperation in the Less Invasive Stabilization System group, according to results. At 12 months researchers found 52% of patients in the Less Invasive Stabilization System group healed without intervention vs. 91% of patients in the dynamic condylar screw group. – by Casey Tingle
Disclosures: Please see the full study for a list of all authors’ relevant financial disclosures.