Femoral condylar buttress plate

ABSTRACT

Nineteen cases with intercondylar femoral fractures treated surgically using the condylar buttress plate are presented in this study. Fifteen patients were males, four were females. The average age was 48 years and the follow up period was 6 to 9 months after surgery. Although the condylar buttress plate is not commonly in use nowadays, this plate proved to be very suitable to fix comminuted intercondylar fractures where its lower cloverleaf shaped end can be mounted to the lateral aspect of the lateral femoral condyle, with its anterior and posterior tongue-like extensions fitting to the anterolateral and posterolateral curvatures of the condyle allowing easy orientation of cancellous screws in all possible planes and this versatility permits fixation of different fragments easily and safely. Fracture reduction and stability of fixation achieved were satisfactory in all cases. Healing was manifested radiographically at an average of eleven weeks [range 9 to 17 weeks]. The knee joint range of flexion at the end of follow up was more than 95 degrees in all cases. We recommend the use of this implant especially in comminuted intercondylar femoral fractures