• Khang H Dang, Connor A Armstrong, Ravi A Karia, and Boris A Zelle.
• Department of Orthopaedics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Dr, MC-7774, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA.
• Int Orthop. 2019 Jul 1; 43 (7): 1709-1714.

PurposeGiven the recent controversy in the literature and the alarming reports of early mechanical failure associated with the use of the Synthes 4.5 mm VA-LCP Curved Condylar Plate in acute distal femur fractures, the goal of our study was to examine the outcomes and mechanical failure rates of this implant in a larger patient population.MethodsPatients 18 years of age and older who underwent plate fixation of their acute distal femoral fracture using the Synthes 4.5 mm VA-LCP Curved Condylar Plate were included in this retrospective study. The study data was collected through a retrospective chart review and review of the existing radiographic studies. Primary outcome measure was mechanical hardware failure while secondary outcome measures included nonunion, malunion, and medical and surgical complications.ResultsA total of 74 patients (77 fractures) were included in this study. The fractures were classified according to the OTA/AO classification as 33-A2 (n = 6), 33-A3 (n = 19), 33-C1 (n = 5), 33-C2 (n = 25), and 33-C3 (n = 22). Thirty-two out of 77 fractures presented as open fractures (41.6%). A mechanical failure was observed in 7 patients (9.1%). Twenty additional patients needed a re-operation of the surgical site including two nonunion repairs, one malunion repair, 15 staged treatments of traumatic segmental bone defects, and two soft tissue debridements.ConclusionsIn our experience, the Synthes 4.5 mm VA-LCP Curved Condylar Plate is a safe and effective implant with a relatively low mechanical failure rate.

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