Indications for Distal Femoral Replacement Arthroplasty in Acute Geriatric Distal Femoral Fractures

Distal intraarticular femoral fractures in the elderly are associated with significant morbidity and mortality and represent a difficult clinical situation for the treating orthopaedic surgeon. Challenges are due to high levels of comminution secondary to osteoporotic bone which limits traditional fixation techniques. Furthermore, these injuries occur in the setting of patients with complex medical co-morbidities which benefit from rapid mobilization. Primary distal femoral replacement arthroplasty has emerged as a viable option for the management of distal femoral fractures in the native knee in the elderly population. In the appropriate patient population, surgeons should consider this technique in the acute setting.