The floating knee: Ipsilateral fractures of the tibia and femur

Fifty-one extremities with ipsilateral tibial and femoral fractures are reviewed. Some children are included in the study. Most of the 47 patients are young men who have multiple injuries with high velocity trauma. The involved extremities are classified according to the injury site: Type 1 fractures involve both shafts; type 2-A fractures involve the knee joint; type 2-B fractures involve hip or ankle joints. Complications are frequent. Delayed union or nonunion occurred in 44.6% of the total number of bones involved. Sixty to seventy percent of the adult patients showed significant permanent functional disability.