RESUMO
The goal of this study is to evaluate the functional results of the modified Judet quadricepsplasty for a knee extension contracture secondary to prolonged external fixation. This is a retrospective study of 31 patients with the diagnosis of an extraarticular knee extension contracture who had prolonged external fixation of the femur. Functional assessment was conducted after a minimum follow-up of 1 year. After performing the functional assessment, according to the Judet scale, 51% of the 31 patients had good results and 19.35% (6 cases) showed excellent results. The improvement in mobility from pre-operative to post-operative range of motion was significant. The performance of the technique, following the authors' described steps and making the subsequent modifications, allowed for partial knee mobility restoration, which significantly improved the patients' functional status. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV. Series of cases.
RESUMO
The method of osteogenesis by distraction is a known technique in orthopaedics for the management of bone defects secondary to trauma, infections or tumours. New strategies have been developed for decreasing the external fixator time. The use of the minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis technique is a secure approach through a percutaneous fixation technique in the anterior aspect of the femur that permits minimal dissection of the soft tissues while preventing cross-contamination with the pin tracts of the external fixators. The goal of this article is to show that a new surgical technique, to preserve the benefits related to the internal fixation and at the same time decrease the risk of infection, can be used to perform femoral plating after bone distraction with a low contact plate through an anterior approach to the femur while still taking adequate care of the soft tissues.
