Abstract
Various methods are available for the surgical treatment of supracondylar fracture of the femur in elderly patients at surgical institutions. In elderly patients, osteoporotic changes of the femur, especially in the condyle, makes complete treatment difficult. If internal fixation does not provide static stabilization of the fracture, external fixation is required additionally.
We use the Kirschner wire for imtramedurally nailing using the Ender nail etc. External fixation is initially performed to treat supracondylar fracture of the femur in elderly patients (over 70) capable only of lower grade activity in daily life. In the recent five years, 20 patients with supracondylar fracture of the femur were treated surgically. Ten were treated using the K-wire imtramedullary nail. All achieved bone union finally and loss of activity in daily life was minimum. The clinical outcome was considered satisfactory. Our method provides better management for elderly patients with osteoporosis and lower grade activity, because it requires little costs and less surgical invasion.
