Surgical outcome of ipsilateral fracture of the femur and tibia in adults (floating knee)

Abstract

Background: Due to the large number of accidents, femur and tibia for Ipsilateral injuries eventually occur; floating injuries are likely to take place. The study was conducted to evaluate the results of surgery for adults with ipsilateral femoral and tibial fractures. Methodology: The study included 15 patients aged 20 to 60. According to Fraser et al, fractures are classified as Type I (5), IIa (3), IIb (4) and IIc (3). Femur fractures were treated using locked intramedullary nails plate-screws, or dynamic condylar screws.Tibia fractures were treated with an external fixator (in open fractures), or plate-screws, and locked intramedullary nailing. The average follow-up period is 2.1 years. Investigations for chest, pelvis, affected lower limbs, including joints and other bone injury were investigated by x-ray. Result: The mean age of the study group was 39.46 years. The time taken from admission to surgery is 2 days (1 to 11 days). The average followup time was 23.5 months (from 20 to 25 months). Most of the cases showed better results (66.7%) in extent of bonyunions, followed by good (20%), acceptable (6.7%) and poor (6.7%), according to the criteria of Karlstrom. Conclusion: Injury and fractures (openness, straightening, congestion) are predictive factors in the floating knee. The complete adequacy of critical injury-related conflicts includes fractures and post-surgical rehabilitation.