Management of Comminuted Distal Femur Fractures Using Locked Condylar Plates

Comminuted fractures of the distal femur are a therapeutic challenge due to their anatomical complexity and frequent association with bone fragility, especially in elderly patients. The introduction of locked condylar plates has brought significant progress in the surgical management of these lesions. These plates offer superior angular stability, particularly useful in the presence of multiple fragments or osteoporosis. This retrospective study was conducted at the Ibn Sina University Hospital in Rabat, including 32 patients operated for comminuted distal femur fractures (AO/OTA types C2 and C3) between January 2018 and December 2023. All cases were treated using locked condylar plates, with early rehabilitation and a minimum follow-up of 12 months. Bone union was achieved on average at 14.6 weeks. The mean functional outcome (Knee Society Score) at 12 months was 82.7. Complications were rare: two cases of stiffness requiring arthrolysis, one case of superficial infection managed medically, and no cases of nonunion. These results confirm the efficacy and reliability of locked condylar plates in stabilizing complex comminuted fractures of the distal femur.