evaluation of the outcome of different surgical techniques in the treatment of distal femur intra-articular fractures: a retrospective study

Background: a preferred surgical approach to distal femur intra-articular fractures is still controversial. objectives: in the current study, we assessed the outcome and complications of three different surgical techniques, including screw fixation, retrograde intramedullary nailing (rin), and locking compression plate (lcp). methods: a total of 63 patients with distal femur intra-articular fractures were included in this retrospective study. ao/ota fracture and dislocation classification was used to categorize patients. type b fractures were treated with screw fixation and type c fractures were treated using lcp and rin. outcome measures, including the knee range of motion (rom) and pain level, were results: the mean±sd age of patients was 36.7±15.7 years. the fracture types b and c were detected in 22 (32.4%) and 46 (67.6%) patients. the mean follow-up period was 27.2±15.9 months. mild knee pain was the only complication of screw fixation that was observed in 21% of patients. lcp was associated with some complications, including pain (19.4%), infection (9.7%), limited rom (47.4%), malunion (47.4%), and nonunion (6.5%). rin was also associated with several complications, including pain (44.4%), infection (11.1%), limited rom (33.3%), and malunion (41.2%). a comparison of the outcome in matched fracture types of lcp and rin groups revealed no superiority of each technique. conclusion: screw fixation alone results in a satisfactory outcome in the treatment of type b distal femur intra-articular fractures. lcp and rin are associated with a variety of complications with no superiority over each other.