Distal Femur Fractures Treated with Distal Femoral Locking Plate Fixation:A Retrospective Study of One Year Mortality and Risk Factors

ABSTRACT

Purpose@#This study examined the one-year mortality after locking plate fixation for distal femur fractures and the risk factors related to death. @*Materials and Methods@#From July 2011 to June 2020, 128 patients who underwent locking plate fixation for distal femur fractures were analyzed retrospectively. Epidemiologic information of the patients, characteristics related to fracture and surgery, and death were investigated. The risk factors related to death were investigated using Cox analysis, and a subgroup analysis was also performed based on the age of 65 years. @*Results@#The one-year mortality rate after locking plate fixation for distal femur fractures was 3.9%, and the mortality rates in patients younger than 65 years and older than 65 years were 0% and 6.7%, respectively. There were no significant risk factors related to death in the total population. On the other hand, in patients aged 65 years or older, however, high-energy fracture and high comorbidity index increased the risk of death after surgery by 6.9-fold and 1.9-fold, respectively. @*Conclusion@#The one-year mortality rate for the total patients was 3.9%, but the mortality rate for patients over 65 years of age increased to 6.7%. High-energy fractures and high comorbidity index were risk factors related to death after surgery for distal femur fractures in patients aged 65 years or older.