{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,28]],"date-time":"2026-08-28T21:23:34Z","timestamp":1787952214466,"version":"build-2784847793"},"reference-count":31,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2023,2,17]],"date-time":"2023-02-17T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1676592000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["JPM"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: Distal femur fractures are challenging in surgical management as the outcome is crucial for restoring the biomechanical stability and longitudinal axis of the leg and function of the knee joint. Methods: A retrospective review of all distal femoral fractures treated in a level I trauma center over a decade was performed. The radiographs were reviewed for fracture entity, osseous healing, implant failure, mechanical axis, and degenerative joint changes. Clinical outcome was reviewed regarding postoperative complications and postoperative range of motion of the knee joint. Results: 130 patients who were managed with screw fixation (n = 35), plating systems (n = 92) or intramedullary nailing systems (n = 3) remained for evaluation. Mean follow up was 26 months. Clinical outcome was significantly better for flexion degrees following screw fixation (p = 0.009). Delayed fracture union (p = 0.002) or non-union (p = 0.006) rates were significantly higher in plate osteosynthesis. Mild pathologic deformity for varus and valgus collapse was found following plate osteosynthesis. Conclusions: Screw fixation shows fewer postoperative complications than plate fixation and is favored for extra and partial intraarticular distal femur fractures. Plating constructs remain the superior fixation method in complex distal femur fractures but are associated with higher rates of non-union and leg axis deviation.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/jpm13020350","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,2,17]],"date-time":"2023-02-17T01:59:24Z","timestamp":1676599164000},"page":"350","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":7,"title":["Outcome Evaluation of Distal Femoral Fractures Following Surgical Management: A Retrospective Cohort Study"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"13","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6365-009X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Mirjam V.","family":"Neumann-Langen","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Klinikum Konstanz, Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Mainaustrasse 35, 78464 Konstanz, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Verena","family":"Sontheimer","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, Medical Center\u2014Albert-Ludwigs-University of Freiburg, Hugstetter Strasse 55, 79106 Freiburg, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0634-4352","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Gudrun H.","family":"Borchert","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Dr. Borchert Medical Information Management, Egelsbacher Strasse 39e, 63225 Langen, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Kaywan","family":"Izadpanah","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, Medical Center\u2014Albert-Ludwigs-University of Freiburg, Hugstetter Strasse 55, 79106 Freiburg, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8801-2385","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Hagen","family":"Schmal","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, Medical Center\u2014Albert-Ludwigs-University of Freiburg, Hugstetter Strasse 55, 79106 Freiburg, Germany"},{"name":"Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University Hospital Odense, Sdr. Boulevard 29, 5000 Odense, Denmark"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Eva J.","family":"Kubosch","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, Medical Center\u2014Albert-Ludwigs-University of Freiburg, Hugstetter Strasse 55, 79106 Freiburg, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,2,17]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"597","DOI":"10.5435\/00124635-201010000-00003","article-title":"Distal femoral fractures: Current concepts","volume":"18","author":"Gwathmey","year":"2010","journal-title":"J. Am. Acad. Orthop. 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