Objective: To evaluate the clinical results of less invasive stabilization system (LISS) for femur supracondylar and intercondylar fractures.
Methods: From March 2004 to November 2005, 47 patients with 49 intercondylar and supracondylar fractures were treated. Of all the patients, there were 34 males and 13 females with an average of 39.7 years (range 19-56 years). The locations were left side in 21 cases and right side in 28 cases. Fracture was caused by traffic accident in 31 cases, falling in 8 cases, violence in 6 cases and others in 2 cases. Forty-nine fractures included 14 intercondylar fractures, 21 supracondylar fractures and 14 intercondylar and supracondylar fractures; 32 closed fractures and 17 open fractures. According to the AO typing, there were 6 type 33-A1, 8 type 33-A2, 10 type 33-A3, 7 type 33-C1, 3 type 33-C2 and 15 type 33-C3. The disease course was 30 minutes to 6 days. Articular surface reduction was first performed, then the LISS plate was inserted via two incisions and locking screws were used later.
Results: The average operation time was 126 minutes (range 48-248 minutes). The blood loss was 180 mL (range 60-1,200 mL). The average follow-up time was 18.6 months (range 12-23 months). There were 4 patients with AP angular deformity and 5 patients with lateral angular deformity (range 2-5 degrees). External rotation deformity was presented in 2 patients. There were no plate breakage, screw loosen and fixation failure. Average bone union time was 5.6 months (range 3-8 months) without infection case. Six cases were treated with iliac bone transplantation for delayed union.
Conclusion: LISS is one kind of effective treatment to femoral intercondylar and supracondylar fractures.