A Comparitive Study of Functional Outcome of Three Methods of Internal Fixation in a Comminuted Supracondylar Fracture Femurin Post Menopausal Women

OBJECTIVES : To compare the 3 methods of internal fixation (a.Condylar buttress plating,b.Dynamic condylar screw and plate fixation,c.Distal Femoral plating.) in comminuted supracondylar fracture femur in post menopausal women treated in the department of orthopedics,MCH kozhikode during the period of 2010-2012. Materials and Methods: This is a prospective and comparative study conducted in MCH kozhikode, kerala ,india.. The study was carried out in the period of November 2010 to September 2012 and 30 patients were included in the study. The detailed history, clin- ical examination , all the relevant laboratory investigations and treatment were done . In the present study, the conditions were defined according to standard practice and based on relevant literature.We have analyzed 3 methods of internal fixation a.Condylar buttress plating,b.Dynamic condylar screw and plate fixation,c.Distal Femoral plating.) in comminuted supracondylar fracture femur in post menopausal women.The ideal method should provide restoration of anatomy,stability,preservation of blood supply,early mobilization of joints with good functional outcome, Results : In this study,the mean menopausal age considered was 50years and the patients in the age group of 50-80years being included in the study.The peak incidence was in the age group of 60-70 followed by above 70years.Out of 30 female patients,14(46.7%) were treated with Distal femoral plate,12(40%) were treated with Condylar buttress plate,4(13.4%) were treated with Dynamic condylar screw. This shows that results were relatively better with DFLP and least effective with DCS and this observation statistically insignificant 0.067(P value). Conclusion:Locking plates are effective treatment option for supracondylar fractures of femur.DCS was the initial treatment modality .The present study Distal femoral locking plates gives better results.