There are many difficuties and problems to get anatomical reduction and rigid internal fixation in treatment of supracondylar and intercondylar fracture of the fumur. Authors reviewed and clinically analysed 7 patients w.ith svpracondylar and intercondylar fracture of the femur treated by delayed reconstruction from August 1993 to Decfmber 1995. Of 1 cases, there were 5 cases of open and 2 cases of closed fracture. According to AO classification, 7 cases were classified as followed; A3 type-l case, C2 type-4 cases, and C3 type-2 cases. They underwent surgical treatment at average 35 days after injury(range from 25 days to 58 days). Main causes of delay in surgical treatment were poor preoperative condition associated with mulliple injuries in 3 cases, wound problems at the site of open fracture in 3 cases and the combined state in 1 case. For internal fixation of fractures, a supracondylar nail in 4 cases and a dynamic condylar screw in 3 cases were used, and the bony defective area of fracture site in all 1 cases was replaced by the composite graft made of the autogenous cancellous bone and the processing allograft(Tutoplast).
The period of follow up was from 8 months to 30 months(average time 14.8 months). There were no infection or allograft-rejection postoperatively. Clinical union was achieved from 6 months to 10 months in 6 cases, and nonunion associated with incomplete incorporation of graft bone was developed in 1 case. In 6 cases of clinical union, clinical assessment estimated by Schatzker and Lamberts criteria was fair in 1 case and failure in 5 cases, and change of tibiofemoral alignment occurred in 2 cases. The above poor clinical results could be considered to be derived from the delayed operative intervention resulting in joint stiffness due to soft tissue contracture, arthritis and large bony defect.
In conclusion, even if it showed poor clinical results, the composite graft made of the autogenous cancellous bone and the pmcessing allograft could serve as a possible alternative for restoration of large bony defect in delayed management of supracondylar and intercondylar fracture of the fumur.