FRACTURE: use of locking plate in fracture fixation of deformed bone
32 yr old male patient presented
with history for fall 5 yrs back wherein he sustained compound fracture right
femur. However no medical records were available. This fracture was managed in
external fixator and multiple soft tissue coverage surgeries were also done.
The patient was walking bearing full weight on this limb, when yesterday he had
a sudden clicking sound in right thigh with inability to bear weight on right
limb. X rays showed mal-united mid shaft femur with fresh fracture just
proximal to the first fracture. The patient was counseled for surgery. The
option of corrective osteotomy and nailing was discussed with the patient, but
he refused. Decision was taken to fix the fracture and no corrective osteotomy
to be done. The patient was taken to operation theatre and fracture was exposed
using lateral approach to thigh. Long large fragment 4.5 mm locking plate was
used to span and fix the fracture. The fracture progressed onto satisfactory
union.