Treatment of distal femoral fractures with intramedullary supracondylar nails in elderly patients

30 acute fractures of the distal femur in 29 elderly patients were treated with a Russell-Taylor intramedullary supracondylar nail (IMSC). 26 of the 30 fractures (87%) united in 2-8 months. Two patients died before fracture union for reasons unrelated to the fracture. Two patients were reoperated upon, in one case the fracture was not adequately reduced at the first operation; in the other patient the nail broke 4 months after operation. In all patients knee flexion reached at least 90 degrees. No infections or thromboembolic complications were seen. The IMSC nail provided the necessary stable fixation with only a few complications in this group of elderly patients without the need to prolonged immobilisation. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.