Abstract
Fractures of the distal femur are regularly encountered in trauma centres and generally fall into a subtype of high-energy injuries in younger patients or frailty fractures in the elderly. In an aging population, frailty fractures are becoming increasingly common, as are peri-prosthetic and inter-prosthetic fractures of the distal femur.
In all but the frailest patients, operative treatment of distal femur fractures is preferred because of the high incidence of stiffness associated with prolonged immobilisation and the occurrence of skin breakdown either in a cast or due to prominent bone spikes. Operative treatment allows earlier mobilisation and improves functional outcomes. In this chapter we will discuss the common fracture configurations and the techniques required for successful reduction and stabilisation.
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Further Reading
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Chellam, W.B., Giannoudis, P.V. (2020). Supracondylar/Intracondylar Distal Femoral Fractures. In: Giannoudis, P. (eds) Fracture Reduction and Fixation Techniques. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-24608-2_19
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-24608-2_19
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