Minimally invasive plate fixation in femoral shaft fractures

Bridge-plating with its advantages in terms of vascularity and bone healing is a well established procedure today in the treatment of comminuted femoral fractures. Bridge-plating means that the fracture site is not interfered with during the operative procedure. This paper introduces a surgical technique in which the plate is inserted through isolated proximal and distal incisions only, behind the vastus lateralis. Alignment is secured by the plates, the fracture site remains untouched, fixation and screw insertion is restricted to the proximal and distal main fragments. Longitudinal femoral fractures extending right into the trochanteric and or condylar areas are the main indication for minimally invasive plate fixations with angled blade plates or condylar screws since fractures which are restricted to the diaphyseal area are mostly treated by nailing today. The surgical trauma resulting from plating by proximal and distal incisions only is less than that associated with conventional techniques. Indirect reduction of femoral fragments is much easier since the integrity of the surrounding muscles and soft tissue is preserved, the fragments often being reduced simply by traction. Adjustment of rotation is an essential aspect requiring careful attention. For special indications, namely comminuted fractures affecting a large part of the femur and extending into the trochanteric or condylar areas, insertion of the plate via proximal and distal incisions only is a further development in bridge-plating which minimizes surgical trauma and operation time.