A comparative study of methods for treating fractures of the distal half of the femur

Abstract

A comparative study of methods for treating fractures of the distal half of the femur was carried out prospectively in the five-year period January 1973 to December 1977. The three methods compared were conservative treatment on a Thomas' splint, application ofa knee-hinged cast-brace at five to seven weeks, and intramedullary nailing. knee. The time in bed, in hospital and to union were compared as was the rate offunctional recovery of the It is concluded that the cast-brace provides a safe reliable method of treatment, combining the advantages of non-operative management with the early mobilisation possible with intramedullary fixation but without the disadvantages of surgical treatment.

Soft-plastic brace for lower limb fractures in patients with spinal cord injury

“…Several treatment options that are currently available for such patients include intramedullary nailing, internal fixation with a locking plate system, external fixation, direct traction, immobilization with rigid cast fixation and functional orthosis. [4][5][6] Open reduction and internal fixation with metal plates and screws is usually not indicated, as fractures heal readily in limbs that are paralyzed after spinal cord injury. Surgery increases the rates of morbidity and complications.…”

“…This was longer than the previous reports on non-spinal cord patients with: traction, average 15.3 weeks (13-22 weeks); cast-brace, average 7.0 weeks (6-9 weeks); and nailing, average 5.4 weeks (3-9 weeks). 6 Three patients were initially admitted for treatment of pressure ulcer, and thereafter broke their legs in some transfer during their long hospital stay. That was the reason why overall patients' average hospitalization was so long in this study, even after fracture union.…”

“…Several treatment options that are currently available include intramedullary nailing, internal fixation with a locking plate system, external fixation, direct traction, immobilization with rigid cast fixation and functional orthosis. [4][5][6] Surgery increases the rates of morbidity and complications. 7 Those persons with spinal cord injury suffering from such fractures are indicated to receive conservative treatment because they have weak bones that cannot withstand internal fixation, and because a precise reduction is not critical.…”

Functional outcome of type a and type c supracondylar fractures of femur treated by retrograde intramedullary nailing technique

“…As per literature, results of non operative treatment were only better than surgical treatment during these days [4,5] . After the arrival of AO group, results of surgical treatment drastically improved owing to improved techniques [6][7][8] . Till late 90s osteosynthesis with plate fixation was the choice.…”

Soft-plastic brace for lower limb fractures in patients with spinal cord injury

“…They cite various treatment options from the literature, but only the paper by Baird et al 2 deals with fractures of the femur, and not those by Sarmiento 3 and Thomas and Meggitt. 4 They cite the paper published by Freehafer and Mast in 1965 5 (!) as an indication of the elevated rate of morbidity and complications resulting from surgery; more up-to-date papers on the treatment of fractures of the lower extremities in paraplegic patients 6,7 are not even mentioned.…”