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Retrograde intramedullary locking nailing as well as the LIS system are propagated as minimally invasive treatment options for distal femoral fractures following total knee arthroplasty. In a retrospective study, we reviewed the clinical results after operative treatment of 18 periprosthetic supracondylar femoral fractures. The fracture was stabilized with the less invasive stabilization system (LISS) in nine patients (average age: 80.3 years) and with a retrograde intramedullary locking nail in the remaining nine patients (average age: 76.8 years). The mean follow-up was 18.2 months (6-35 months). We did not find significant differences concerning the operation time (nailing 99.8 min vs 102.3 min with the LISS) or the length of stay in the hospital (nailing 10.6 days vs 12.7 days with the LISS). In one patient of the nailing group we found a valgus malalignment of 18 degrees. Seven patients in each group were satisfied with the clinical results. In one patient of the LISS group a revision due to an infection was necessary. In one patient of the nailing group a reosteosynthesis had to be performed. To sum up, both systems are useful tools in the treatment of dislocated periprosthetic fractures and both systems are not without any problems. However, under special consideration of the complications we found in our study, the LISS seems to be a better alternative in osteoporotic bone with a small distal fragment. The choice of the optimal implant should therefore depend on the type of fracture and knee arthroplasty, the type of bone, and the experience of the surgeon.

Manubriosternal dislocation is an extremely rare occurrence, especially as the result of an indirect compression injury. Manubriosternal dislocations are divided into two types: In a Type I dislocation, the body of the sternum is displaced in a dorsal direction; in Type II dislocation, the body is displaced to the ventral side of the manubrium. A manubriosternal dislocation may be caused by direct or indirect trauma. Direct injury is generally a collision injury occurring in the context of a road accident. Resulting may be in either a Type I or Type II dislocation. Indirect trauma always leads to a Type II dislocation due to a flexion-compression mechanism in the region of the spine. Rheumatic arthritis and obvious kyphosis are predisposing factors in manubriosternal dislocation due to the indirect compression injury. Non-operative treatments after reduction, e.g. correction tape or plaster bandage, symptomatic pain treatment, application of ice, and several weeks without sports, are associated with a not inconsiderable rate of subluxations or reluxations, especially due to insufficient patient compliance. These disorders can lead to chronic pain, periarticular calcification with ankylosis, and progressive deformity. It has not been possible to establish an optimal, standardized operative procedure so far because of the small number of cases. We have achieved very good, postoperative long-term outcomes after plate osteosynthesis of manubriosternal dislocations in two patients.

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