(ii) The “floating knee” in adults and children

SummaryThe treatment of simultaneous ipsilateral femoral and tibial fractures is a therapeutic challenge, often complicated by concomitant multisystem injury. This combination necessitates vigilance in identifying and promptly treating associated neurovascular compromise. In the context of multiple trauma, a spanning external fixator could be considered to allow restoration of haemodynamic stability and to minimise the immuno-inflammatory response to injury. Definitive reconstruction can be performed at later stage. Intramedullary nailing appears to be the most common method of stabilisation.