2000 Volume 49 Issue 4 Pages 1035-1039
Supracondylar fracture of the femur following total knee arthroplasty is a serious complication and the management of this complication is controversial. We treated supracondylar fracture of the femur using the Intramedullary Supracondylar Nail (IMSC nail). The advantages of using the IMSC nail are both biomechanical and biological, such as decreased lever arm, and biological advantages of having less periosteal stripping, and preserved alignment. The two largest advantages are the ease of placement of this device and the decreased operative time. The IMSC nail allows early range of motion exercises at the knee without the need for prolonged bed rest. Our case healed while preserving nearly all of the prefracturure range of motion and showed no complications. We concluded that the IMSC nail is an effective method for treating supracondylar fracture of the femur following total knee arthroplalsty.
