Surgical treatment of displaced, comminuted fractures of the distal end of the femur. An extensile approach

Thirty supracondylar and intercondylar fractures of the femur in twenty-eight patients were reduced and stabilized with ASIF techniques. After an average follow-up of 28.5 months, the results were good or excellent in twenty-four limbs. An extensile surgical exposure with elevation of the tibial tuberosity was used successfully in eight limbs to facilitate the exposure of multiplanar intra-articular fractures. Close attention to the surgical details is necessary to avoid the potential complications of this approach.