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Salvage of a 5-Year Neglected Distal Femur Nonunion in a Refugee: A Case Report
Brian Prigmore1, Mackenzie Kelly2, Graham J DeKeyser2
1Department of Orthopaedics, The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, utah.edu.
Case:
A 38-year-old woman was found to have a closed, chronically displaced left distal femur fracture sustained 5 years prior while living in South America. Prompt surgical intervention in her home country was inaccessible, leading to non-union, functional impairment, leg shortening, and soft tissue contractures. Dual-plate fixation, bone grafting, and quadricepsplasty were performed and the patient's function and mobility were restored to a degree commensurate with daily requirements.
Conclusion:
Chronically displaced distal femur fractures with nonunion, shortening, and soft tissue contractures can be safely and effectively managed with dual-plating, bone grafting, and quadricepsplasty.
