Assessing the Long-Term Results of Surgical Treatments for Distal Femur Fractures: a Comparative Study

Abstract

Background and Aim: About 4 - 7% of all femur fractures are distal femur fractures that are typically brought on by high-energy trauma.

Methods: A study was conducted on 120 patients with distal femur fractures aged 20-60 years at Baghdad Hospital, Iraq, during the period from April 2023 to April 2024. All patients underwent surgical intervention for distal femur fractures and were divided into two groups: the first group comprised patients treated with open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF), constituting 60 cases, while the second group comprised patients treated with external fixation, also comprising 60 cases. The follow-up period extended over a 12-month duration. The study meticulously documented the demographic, bone, and functional outcomes of the patients. Furthermore, we administered questionnaires to assess patients' quality of life and identify risk factors that could potentially impact their long-term quality of life.

Results: Based on functional outcomes, fractures were divided into AO/OTA type 33B (65%), AO/OTA type 33A (25%), AO/OTA type 33C (10%), and AO/OTA type 33B (65%). Post-operative outcomes: walking without help (45%), weight-bearing (76.67%), mortality after 12 months got (5.0%), complications (10%), and excellent satisfaction rate (73.33%) for overall patients underwent open reduction and internal fixation while walking without help (35.83%), weight-bearing (67.5%), mortality after 12 months got (8.33%), complications (25%), and excellent satisfaction rate (66.67%) for overall patients underwent external fixation.

Conclusion: This study confirms that open reduction and internal fixation is effective in improving surgical and functional outcomes in the treatment of patients with distal femoral fractures compared to external fixation.