Results after internal fixation of comminuted fractures of the femoral shaft with DC plates.

A series of 131 comminuted fractures of the femoral shaft in 123 patients were externally fixed by the ASIF plating method. Of the 126 fractures in 118 patients, that could be reviewed one to 3 years postoperatively, 115 of 92% presented a good functional result. The most common complication was a fatigue fracture of the plates which, however, only occurred after biomechanically faulty application, without medial buttress of the bone, and in the absence of a cancellous autograft. The application of a bone graft therefore appears mandatory in all fractures of the femoral shaft that are fixed by a plate.