Distal Femoral Fractures

Distal femoral fractures are located in the supracondylar area of the distal femur (5 cm’s proximal to the joint line). They have a bimodal age distribution: the young (high energy, high comminution) and the elderly (low energy, low comminution, periprosthetic). Like all traumas about the knee they carry the risk of popliteal artery injury; hence, the importance of the vascular exam and need for angiogram if such an injury is suspected or documented. The treatment is usually open reduction and internal fixation. The preferred implants are fixed angle devices/locking plates or retrograde intramedullary nails. The most common complications are malunion (varum), nonunion, and symptomatic hardware.