The journal of knee surgery
-
Anterior femoral cortex notching is a known complication of total knee arthroplasty (TKA). In severe cases, notching may alter the mechanical properties of the distal femur. We report a patient with significant femoral notching and malpositioning of the femoral prosthesis after TKA, leading to unresolved postoperative pain, decreased range of motion, and functional disability. The severity of this lesion required the use of augments and an offset femoral stem for improved alignment during revision arthroplasty, which is described in this brief technical note.
-
Locked plating and retrograde nailing are two accepted methods for treatment of periprosthetic distal femur fractures. Each has relative benefits and potential pitfalls. Appropriate patient selection and knowledge of the specific femoral component geometry are required to optimally choose between these two methods. ⋯ The fracture pattern, simple or comminuted, will dictate the specific plating technique, compression plating or bridge plating. Nailing requires an open intercondylar box and a distal fragment of enough size to allow interlocking. With proper patient selection and proper techniques, good results can be obtained with either method.