External fixation in femoral fractures

In this article we present the femoral fractures treated with external fixation in our clinic between 19881992. The operative indications of 29 patients with femoral fractures and the results of the 17 patients that had an average follow-up period of 9.2 months (range between 6-24 months) were retrospectively evaluated. 23 of the 29 cases were open fractures and we used the "Multi-purpose External Fixator" which is an adjustable type pin-clamp fixator designed in our clinic. We observed union in.16 of the 17 cases that had a satisfactory follow-up period. The complications were: 2 angulations, 1 osteomyelitis, and 4 pin-track infections and knee stiffness in 8 cases. With this technique in correspondance with the Iiterature, restriction of the knee joint motion is possible especially in the distal femoral fractures, but when we consider the results in the meaning of union, they are satisfactory.