Early Comparative Outcomes of Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Plate in the Fixation of Distal Femur Fractures.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate the early clinical results of distal femur fractures treated with carbon fiber-reinforced polyetheretherketone (CFR-PEEK) plates compared with stainless steel (SS) lateral locking plates.

DESIGN:

Retrospective comparative cohort study.

SETTING:

ACS Level I trauma center.

PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS:

Twenty-two patients (11 SS, 11 CFR-PEEK) with closed distal femur fractures treated by a single surgeon over a 6-year period.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS:

Nonunion, hardware failure, reoperation, time to full weight-bearing, and time union were assessed.

RESULTS:

The CFR-PEEK cohort was on average older (71 vs. 57 years, P = 0.03) and more likely to have diabetes (P = 0.02). Nonunion was diagnosed in 4/11 (36%) patients in the SS group and 1/11 (9%) patients in the CFR-PEEK group (P = 0.12). Hardware failure occurred in 2 SS patients (18%) compared with none in the CFR-PEEK group (P = 0.14). Time to full weight-bearing was similar between groups, occurring at 9.9 and 12.4 weeks in the CFR-PEEK and SS groups, respectively (P = 0.23). Time to radiographic union averaged 12.4 weeks in the SS group and 18.7 weeks in the CFR-PEEK group (P = 0.26). There were 4 reoperations in the SS group and 1 in the CFR-PEEK group (P = 0.12).

CONCLUSIONS:

CFR-PEEK plates show encouraging short-term results in the treatment of distal femur fractures with a comparable nonunion, reoperation, and hardware failure rates to those treated with SS plates. This data suggest that CFR-PEEK plates may be a viable alternative to SS plates in fixation of these fractures.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:

Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

• Authors: Phillip M Mitchell, Adam K Lee, Cory A Collinge, Bruce H Ziran, Kate G Hartley, A Alex Jahangir
• Journal: Journal of orthopaedic trauma (J Orthop Trauma) Vol. 32 Issue 8 Pg. 386-390 (08 2018) ISSN: 1531-2291 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 29781944 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Benzophenones
• Ketones
• Polymers
• polyetheretherketone
• Polyethylene Glycols

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Benzophenones
• Bone Plates
• Equipment Design
• Female
• Femoral Fractures (diagnosis, surgery)
• Follow-Up Studies
• Fracture Fixation, Internal (methods)
• Fracture Healing
• Humans
• Ketones
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Polyethylene Glycols
• Polymers
• Radiography
• Retrospective Studies
• Time Factors
• Treatment Outcome