Distal femoral fractures: current treatment, results and problems

The evolution of treatment for supracondylar femoral fractures has sequentially addressed the difficulties of alignment, articular reduction, stabilization and fracture union. Adequate surgical stabilization and early motion diminished stiffness, while newer indirect techniques in handling periarticular tissues have greatly improved union rates. Indirect methods of reduction require an understanding of anatomy and deformity to avoid malalignment. The problems we currently face are fixation in osteoporotic bone or small distal articular segments.