Lower mortality in distal femoral fractures in the presence of a knee arthroplasty: an observational study on 2,725 fractures from the Swedish Fracture Register

Changing Epidemiology of Distal Femur Fractures: Increase in Geriatric Fractures and Rates of Distal Femur Replacement

INTRODUCTION

Distal femur fractures (DFFs) are associated with high complication and mortality rates in the elderly. Using the National Inpatient Sample and Medicare data, we describe trends in the incidence of DFFs by fixation type and associated healthcare costs.

METHODS

Annual population rates and volume of inpatient DFFs were estimated using Poisson regression with the US Census as a denominator. We used Current Procedural Terminology codes in Medicare patients to determine episode-of-care cost by treatment, classified as intramedullary nail, open reduction and internal fixation, and distal femur arthroplasty (DFR).

RESULTS

The annual incidence of DFFs in the United States is approximately 27.4 per 100,000. Admission for DFFs increased from 2002 to 2020, with the highest volume and rate in those aged 85 years and older. DFF incidence increased (1.95×) from 142 per 1 million (95% CI: 140 to 144) in 2006 to 281 per 1 million (95% CI: 278-284) in 2019. From 2012 to 2019, the percentage of DFFs treated by intramedullary nail increased from 6.8% to 8.4%, open reduction and internal fixation decreased from 89.9% to 76.6%, and DFR increased from 3.3% to 14.9%. DFR cost was significantly greater than other treatment choices across all years for initial inpatient admission costs and 90-day episode-of-care costs (all P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

DFF volume has increased in the past 20 years, predominantly in elderly patients. Greater than 4.5× increase was observed in the proportion of geriatric DFFs treated with DFR during this study period. The total cost of DFR treatment was consistently greater than other surgical treatments.

The linked nail/plate construct for the management of distal femur fractures in the elderly

BACKGROUND

Distal femoral fractures represent a challenging injury, with many different factors such as the method of fixation, complexity of fracture pattern, and patient co-morbidities affecting the outcome. Lots of surgical treatment options have been described, but recently double construct fixation, using a nail/plate combination, has received lots of attention, a technique that leads to faster weight-bearing, low risk of metalwork failure, and non-union. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of the linked nail/plate construct in the management of complex distal femur fractures and to investigate if the above technique leads to faster recovery and earlier radiographic union.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In total 15 cases were included in the study, that underwent a combined nail/plate construct for a distal femur fracture between January 2021 and December 2022. Only cases with a linked nail/plate construct were included, with a minimum follow-up of 1 year. Open femur fractures, single implant fixation cases, and revision procedures were excluded.

RESULTS

In this cohort study, 11 cases were periprosthetic distal femur features, and 4 cases were distal femur fractures around a native knee joint. The mean age group was 74 years, 86.6% of the patients had a BMI > 25 and the mean time to fracture union was 24 weeks (range from 20 to 26 weeks). All cases healed uneventfully and the complication rate was 6.6%, including 1 case of superficial infection which resolved completely with oral antibiotics.

CONCLUSION

The increasing age population, the complexity of distal femoral fractures along with the increasing physiological demands of the elderly population, drive the need for double fixation constructs that allow early mobilization and enhance fracture stability. In our study, the linked nail/plate construct seems to provide adequate stability and excellent union rates (100%) with no associated increased risk of complications.

Nail plate combination in fractures of the distal femur in the elderly: A new paradigm for optimum fixation and early mobilization?

Distal femoral fractures in elderly or osteoporotic patients constitute a challenging injury, especially in the settings of fracture comminution or periprosthetic fractures. A recent trend in the treatment of these difficult injuries is the double fixation with a nail and a plate, a strategy that comes with advantages including faster weight-bearing and lower risk for non-union. Although biomechanical studies have demonstrated the superiority of nail-plate constructs, there is a paucity in the literature regarding the indications and results of treatment. A review of the literature to date was carried out to identify which group of patients would benefit the most from this type of reconstruction and to evaluate the clinical outcomes.

Does Total Knee Arthroplasty Positively Affect Body Static-Dynamic Balance and Fall Risk Parameters in Patients With Satisfactory Functional Scores?

Objective The aim of this study was to determine the balance problems and risk of falling by using digital or computerized methods in patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and have satisfactory functional scores in the early postoperative period. Methodology A total of 31 participants (24 women, seven men; mean age: 61.93 ±10.75 years; range: 49-82 years) who underwent unilateral TKA were included. The fall risk was evaluated using the time up-and-go (TUG) test and computerized platforms. Patient-reported pain, stiffness, and physical functional outcome measures [Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and Oxford Knee Score (OKS)] and posture (New York Posture Rating Chart) were evaluated. Results Based on the WOMAC scores, there was a significant impact on self-reported pain (p˂0.001), function (p=0.001), and stiffness (p=0.001) between preoperative and postoperative results. The OKS (p=0.006) and the TUG score (p=0.004) improved significantly, but the posture scores remained the same after the surgery. There was a statistically significant difference between the preoperative and third-month postoperative test results of the stabilometric test, bipedal opened eye, bipedal closed eye, monopedal right, and monopedal left foot static balance tests (p˂0.05). However, the disequilibrium and equilibrium dynamic balance values ​​remained unchanged three months after TKA. Conclusions Satisfactory functional scores according to WOMAC or OKS were achieved in the early postoperative period. However, posture and dynamic balance problems related to falling risk continued to persist in the same period. Although the TUG test results were statistically significant, they also showed fall risk values. Fall risk and postural problems should be analyzed objectively using computerized methods. Early rehabilitation programs after TKA in elderly individuals should be designed accordingly and close attention must be paid to fall risks.