Supracondylar Fractures of the Femur

Yang, Yung Sik; Lee, Won Gap; Park, Byung Lock

Abstract

Supracondylar Fractures of the femur are not as cammon as femoral neck or intertrochanteric fractures, but their treatment may be just as difficult. Few surgeons have had extensive experience with this complex fractures of uncommon frequency. Until a few years ago, conservative treatment was considered superior to internal fixation of supracondylar fractures of the femur in adults. However, the development of new fixation devices and techniques has, according to several investigations, improved the results of the treatment of these fractures. The following clinical results were shown by analysis of 27 cases of femoral supracondylar fractures experienced in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Capital Armed Forces General Hospital in the past 3 years from Jan. 1977 to Oec. 1979. 1. The most common cause of these fractures were traffic accidents. 2. Of 27 cases, 11 cases were treated by conservative method, 16 cases were treated by open reduction and internal fixation. 3. Anatomical reduction and rigid internal fixation led to 80% of good to excellent results whereas only 33.4% of good to excellent results were obtained in patients in whom the fixation was not absolutely rigid. 4. In the treatment of supracondylar fractures of the femur, anatomical reduction and rigid internal fixation (80% of good to excellent results) resulted in better functional recovery after union of fractures than conservative treatment (45.5%).