A comparative study of two treatment methods for comminuted distal femoral fractures

Objective To compare the effectiveness of the lateral anatomic locking plate and bilateral plates(lateral anatomic locking plate combined with the medial reconstructive plate) in treatment of comminuted distal femoral fractures.Methods Thirty-three patients with distal femoral comminuted fractures were treated with single or double plates and followed.A retrospective study was performed to compare the outcomes of two methods regarding operative time,perioperative blood loss,fracture union time,knee function evaluation score and complications.Results Thirty-three patients were followed with a mean of 24 months(14 to 36 months).There were no significant differences between the two groups in perioperative blood loss,fracture healing time and the excellent and good rate of the Schatzker-Lambert scale(P 0.05).However,the operative time was significantly shorter in the single plate group(P 0.01),and the knee varus or valgus deformity rate was significantly lower in the double plates group(P 0.05).Conclusion In treatment of the communicated distal femur fracture,the double plate fixation is more stable than the single plate method,also with a much longer operative time.