Management of Distal Femoral Fractures (Extra-articular)

Extra-articular distal femur fractures are challenging orthopedic injuries that occur less commonly than proximal and diaphyseal femur fractures. As implant design and technology improve, the rate of fracture healing and complication rate have both improved. Currently, these injuries are most commonly treated with lateral locking plates or intramedullary nail fixation, but have yet to show uniformly good results. Considerations to direct the appropriate implant choice include degree of comminution, distance above the joint line, and intra-articular extension. Complications of distal femur fixation include nonunion, implant failure, and malalignment. These complications may have severe impact on functional and radiographic outcomes, and strategies to achieve appropriate alignment and fixation of femur fractures must be carefully considered to achieve optimal results.