Current concept of management of supracondylar femur fracture: retrograde femoral nail or distal femoral locking plate

Background:This study provides an update on the management of supracondylar femur fractures by distal femoral locking plate and retrograde femoral nail.Methods: 20 patients in each group with median age of 47 years treated with plate fixations and nailing for supracondylar femur fractures was followed up for a period of 12 months.Results:Distal femoral nail has shorter union time than distal femoral locking plate, group of patients with distal femoral locking plate has union time of 18.4±1.23 weeks while Distal Femoral Nail has union time of 15.2±4.83,p value was 0.007 which is significant. Total range of motion and extensor lag is same. The total amount of knee flexion in distal femoral Locking Plate is 104.75±8.19, while in Distal Femoral Nail is109.5±11.46, p value is 0.14, which is not significant .Functional results are same.Conclusions:It can be concluded that results are better with both the technique, provided done surgically correct. The plate can be adapted to all fractures, while retrograde nailing is better adapted to extra-articular fractures.