Results of rigid fixation in 54 supracondylar fractures of the femur.

We present the results of the internal fixation in 48 supracondylar fractures of the femur with a follow-up of 1 to 10 years. These fractures have been classified according to the criteria proposed by the AO international. The clinical results were excellent to good in 70.9% of the cases, fair to bad in 22.9%, and failures (due to pseudarthrosis and osteomyelitis) in 6.2%. Significantly inferior results were obtained in articular, open, and imperfectly reduced fractures. The frequent comminution of these fractures often interfered with anatomic reduction, which explains the elevated number of consolidations in varus and/or recurvation.