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Original Article
The Mid-Term Result after Osteosynthesis of Intra-Articular Fractures of Distal Femur
Sam Guk Park, M.D., Jeong Jae Moon, M.D., Oog Jin Shon, M.D., Ph.D.
Journal of the Korean Fracture Society 2016;29(4):242-249.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12671/jkfs.2016.29.4.242
Published online: October 20, 2016

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Yeungnam University College of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.

Address reprint requests to: Oog Jin Shon, M.D ., Ph.D. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Yeungnam University Medical Center, 170 Hyeonchung-ro, Nam-gu, Daegu 42415, Korea. Tel: 82-53-620-3640·Fax: 82-53-628-4020, ossoj@med.yu.ac.kr
• Received: July 6, 2016   • Revised: September 17, 2016   • Accepted: September 21, 2016

Copyright © 2016 The Korean Fracture Society. All rights reserved.

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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  • Purpose
    This study was to evaluate the radiological and clinical mid-term results and the presence of post-traumatic osteoarthritis after osteosynthesis in patients under the age of 50 years undergoing osteosynthesis for distal femur intra-articular fractures (AO/OTA 33-B & C) from high-energy trauma.
  • Materials and Methods
    Between January 2008 and January 2013, a total of twenty-one patients with more than three years of follow-up were enrolled. Recovery of the alignment of the lower extremity, union period, and the presence of post-traumatic osteoarthritis were confirmed by follow-up radiographs. Clinically, the range of motion, pain on fracture lesion, and Knee Society score (KSS) were evaluated.
  • Results
    The average duration of union was 18.2 weeks (10-28 weeks), and the alignment of the lower extremity was within normal range in all patients. Seven patients showed post-traumatic osteoarthritis at the final follow-up after more than three years. The presence of post-traumatic osteoarthritis was associated with the classification of fractures, coronal plane fracture, and age. The average range of motion, knee score among KSS, and function score at the last follow-up were 128.7°, 86.1, and 85.1, all showing a greater improvement when compared with the one-year follow-up scores.
  • Conclusion
    The mid-term result was radiologically and clinically satisfactory. Furthermore, only 33.3% of patients showed a slight progress of post-traumatic osteoarthritis, which critically effects the prognosis.
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Fig. 1

A 46-year-old female with metaphyseal simple and complete articular fracture with coronal plane fracture, who was injured by a fall (AO/OTA 33-C3). (A) Anteroposterior and lateral radiograph of the right distal femur fracture. (B) Computed tomography. (C) Radiographs, obtained immediately operatively, show an internal fixation. (D) Radiographs obtained at 10 months after surgery show complete bony union at the fracture site. (E) Radiographs obtained at 14 months after surgery show a device removal status. (F) Radiographs obtained at 4 years after surgery show normal alignment and no post-traumatic osteoarthritis progression.

jkfs-29-242-g001.jpg
Table 1

Radiographic and Clinical Results between the AO/OTA 33-B and C Groups

jkfs-29-242-i001.jpg
Variable Group p-value
AO/OTA
33-B
AO/OTA
33-C
Radiographic results
 Bone union time (wk) 12.4 (10–16) 20.2 (16–28) 0.003
 Axial alignment
  AA of the femur & tibia (°) 5.4 5.1 0.542
  mLDFA (°) 89.3 89.4 0.326
Clinical results
 Range of motion (°) 136.0 125.5 0.018
 Knee Society score
  Knee score 93.0 84.0 0.017
  Function score 91.0 83.3 0.028

AA: Anatomic axis, mLDFA: Mechanical lateral distal femoral angle.

Table 2

Selected Variables in Accordance with the Result of the Stepwise Method of Multiple Logistic Regression (Dependent Variable=Post-Traumatic Osteoarthritis Change)

jkfs-29-242-i002.jpg
Variable Coefficients (β) p-value Odds ratio
Classification 0.526 0.001 15.750
Coronal plane fracture 0.449 0.004 13.772
Age −0.356 0.023 4.294
Alignment 0.228 0.188 0.992
Range of motion 0.301 0.282 1.857
Knee Society score
 Knee score 0.186 0.262 1.671
 Function score 0.242 0.143 1.825
Table 3

Comparison of Pain at the Fracture Site Pain between Short Term and Mid-Term

jkfs-29-242-i003.jpg
Fracture site pain F/U 1 year F/U >3 years
None 8 (38.1) 8 (38.1)
Mild (occasional) 3 (14.3) 8 (38.1)
Mild (stairs only) 5 (23.8) 2 (9.5)
Mild (walking and stairs) 2 (9.5) 1 (4.8)
Moderate (occasional) 2 (9.5) 2 (9.5)
Moderate (continual) 1 (4.8) 0
Severe 0 0

Values are presented as number (%). F/U: Follow-up.

Table 4

Comparison of the Knee Society Score between Short-Term Result and Mid-Termz

jkfs-29-242-i004.jpg
Variable Knee score Function score
F/U 1
year
F/U >3
years
F/U 1
year
F/U >3
years
Excellent (80–100) 12 (57.1) 15 (71.4) 13 (61.9) 15 (71.4)
Good (70–79) 3 (14.3) 3 (14.3) 3 (14.3) 2 (9.5)
Fair (60–69) 4 (19.1) 3 (14.3) 3 (14.3) 3 (14.3)
Poor (<60) 2 (9.5) 0 2 (9.5) 1 (4.8)
Satisfaction 15 (71.4) 18 (85.7) 16 (76.2) 17 (80.9)

Values are presented as number (%). F/U: Follow-up.

Figure & Data

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    • Incidence of nonunion after surgery of distal femoral fractures using contemporary fixation device: a meta‐analysis
      Byung-Ho Yoon, In Keun Park, Youngwoo Kim, Hyoung-Keun Oh, Suk Kyu Choo, Yerl-Bo Sung
      Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery.2021; 141(2): 225.     CrossRef

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      The Mid-Term Result after Osteosynthesis of Intra-Articular Fractures of Distal Femur
      J Korean Fract Soc. 2016;29(4):242-249.   Published online October 31, 2016
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    The Mid-Term Result after Osteosynthesis of Intra-Articular Fractures of Distal Femur
    Image
    Fig. 1 A 46-year-old female with metaphyseal simple and complete articular fracture with coronal plane fracture, who was injured by a fall (AO/OTA 33-C3). (A) Anteroposterior and lateral radiograph of the right distal femur fracture. (B) Computed tomography. (C) Radiographs, obtained immediately operatively, show an internal fixation. (D) Radiographs obtained at 10 months after surgery show complete bony union at the fracture site. (E) Radiographs obtained at 14 months after surgery show a device removal status. (F) Radiographs obtained at 4 years after surgery show normal alignment and no post-traumatic osteoarthritis progression.
    The Mid-Term Result after Osteosynthesis of Intra-Articular Fractures of Distal Femur

    Radiographic and Clinical Results between the AO/OTA 33-B and C Groups

    Variable Group p-value
    AO/OTA
    33-B
    AO/OTA
    33-C
    Radiographic results
     Bone union time (wk) 12.4 (10–16) 20.2 (16–28) 0.003
     Axial alignment
      AA of the femur & tibia (°) 5.4 5.1 0.542
      mLDFA (°) 89.3 89.4 0.326
    Clinical results
     Range of motion (°) 136.0 125.5 0.018
     Knee Society score
      Knee score 93.0 84.0 0.017
      Function score 91.0 83.3 0.028

    AA: Anatomic axis, mLDFA: Mechanical lateral distal femoral angle.

    Selected Variables in Accordance with the Result of the Stepwise Method of Multiple Logistic Regression (Dependent Variable=Post-Traumatic Osteoarthritis Change)

    Variable Coefficients (β) p-value Odds ratio
    Classification 0.526 0.001 15.750
    Coronal plane fracture 0.449 0.004 13.772
    Age −0.356 0.023 4.294
    Alignment 0.228 0.188 0.992
    Range of motion 0.301 0.282 1.857
    Knee Society score
     Knee score 0.186 0.262 1.671
     Function score 0.242 0.143 1.825

    Comparison of Pain at the Fracture Site Pain between Short Term and Mid-Term

    Fracture site pain F/U 1 year F/U >3 years
    None 8 (38.1) 8 (38.1)
    Mild (occasional) 3 (14.3) 8 (38.1)
    Mild (stairs only) 5 (23.8) 2 (9.5)
    Mild (walking and stairs) 2 (9.5) 1 (4.8)
    Moderate (occasional) 2 (9.5) 2 (9.5)
    Moderate (continual) 1 (4.8) 0
    Severe 0 0

    Values are presented as number (%). F/U: Follow-up.

    Comparison of the Knee Society Score between Short-Term Result and Mid-Termz

    Variable Knee score Function score
    F/U 1
    year
    F/U >3
    years
    F/U 1
    year
    F/U >3
    years
    Excellent (80–100) 12 (57.1) 15 (71.4) 13 (61.9) 15 (71.4)
    Good (70–79) 3 (14.3) 3 (14.3) 3 (14.3) 2 (9.5)
    Fair (60–69) 4 (19.1) 3 (14.3) 3 (14.3) 3 (14.3)
    Poor (<60) 2 (9.5) 0 2 (9.5) 1 (4.8)
    Satisfaction 15 (71.4) 18 (85.7) 16 (76.2) 17 (80.9)

    Values are presented as number (%). F/U: Follow-up.

    Table 1 Radiographic and Clinical Results between the AO/OTA 33-B and C Groups

    AA: Anatomic axis, mLDFA: Mechanical lateral distal femoral angle.

    Table 2 Selected Variables in Accordance with the Result of the Stepwise Method of Multiple Logistic Regression (Dependent Variable=Post-Traumatic Osteoarthritis Change)

    Table 3 Comparison of Pain at the Fracture Site Pain between Short Term and Mid-Term

    Values are presented as number (%). F/U: Follow-up.

    Table 4 Comparison of the Knee Society Score between Short-Term Result and Mid-Termz

    Values are presented as number (%). F/U: Follow-up.


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