Historically, mechanically unstable fractures of the distal femur have been difficult to treat. Problems such as varus collapse, malunion, and nonunion frequently resulted before fixed-angle plates and indirect reduction techniques were popularized. More recently, the Less Invasive Stabilization System, or LISS (Synthes, Paoli, PA), has been designed to combine these 2 approaches with the intended goals of achieving adequate stable fixation and early healing. Early clinical results for the femoral Less Invasive Stabilization System have been promising. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical results of patients with high energy, mechanically unstable fractures of the distal femur treated with the Less Invasive Stabilization System.
Design: Retrospective analysis of a treatment protocol, consecutive patient series.
Setting: Busy level II trauma center.
Patients: 26 patients with 27 high-energy AO/OTA types A2, A3, C2, and C3 fractures of the distal femur.
Intervention: Treatment with indirect fracture reduction and internal distal femoral fixation using the Less Invasive Stabilization System.
Main Outcome Measures: Clinical and radiographic assessment.
The Less Invasive Stabilization System allows for stable fixation and facilitates early healing in mechanically unstable high-energy fractures of the distal femur. There were no patients with fixation failure, varus collapse, or nonunion in this "at-risk" population. This treatment safely allows for immediate postoperative initiation of joint mobility and the progression of weight bearing with early radiographic signs of healing.
Copyright remains with the authors and publisher.
Historically, mechanically unstable fractures of the distal femur have been difficult to treat. Problems such as varus collapse, malunion, and nonunion frequently resulted before fixed-angle plates and indirect reduction techniques were popularized. More recently, the Less Invasive Stabilization System, or LISS (Synthes, Paoli, PA), has been designed to combine these 2 approaches with the intended goals of achieving adequate stable fixation and early healing. Early clinical results for the femoral Less Invasive Stabilization System have been promising. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical results of patients with high energy, mechanically unstable fractures of the distal femur treated with the Less Invasive Stabilization System.
Design: Retrospective analysis of a treatment protocol, consecutive patient series.
Setting: Busy level II trauma center.
Patients: 26 patients with 27 high-energy AO/OTA types A2, A3, C2, and C3 fractures of the distal femur.
Intervention: Treatment with indirect fracture reduction and internal distal femoral fixation using the Less Invasive Stabilization System.
Main Outcome Measures: Clinical and radiographic assessment.
The Less Invasive Stabilization System allows for stable fixation and facilitates early healing in mechanically unstable high-energy fractures of the distal femur. There were no patients with fixation failure, varus collapse, or nonunion in this "at-risk" population. This treatment safely allows for immediate postoperative initiation of joint mobility and the progression of weight bearing with early radiographic signs of healing.
Copyright remains with the authors and publisher.