Early Comparative Outcomes of Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Plate in the Fixation of Distal Femur Fractures

J Orthop Trauma. 2018 Aug;32(8):386-390. doi: 10.1097/BOT.0000000000001223.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the early clinical results of distal femur fractures treated with carbon fiber-reinforced polyetheretherketone (CFR-PEEK) plates compared with stainless steel (SS) lateral locking plates.

Design: Retrospective comparative cohort study.

Setting: ACS Level I trauma center.

Patients/participants: Twenty-two patients (11 SS, 11 CFR-PEEK) with closed distal femur fractures treated by a single surgeon over a 6-year period.

Main outcome measurements: Nonunion, hardware failure, reoperation, time to full weight-bearing, and time union were assessed.

Results: The CFR-PEEK cohort was on average older (71 vs. 57 years, P = 0.03) and more likely to have diabetes (P = 0.02). Nonunion was diagnosed in 4/11 (36%) patients in the SS group and 1/11 (9%) patients in the CFR-PEEK group (P = 0.12). Hardware failure occurred in 2 SS patients (18%) compared with none in the CFR-PEEK group (P = 0.14). Time to full weight-bearing was similar between groups, occurring at 9.9 and 12.4 weeks in the CFR-PEEK and SS groups, respectively (P = 0.23). Time to radiographic union averaged 12.4 weeks in the SS group and 18.7 weeks in the CFR-PEEK group (P = 0.26). There were 4 reoperations in the SS group and 1 in the CFR-PEEK group (P = 0.12).

Conclusions: CFR-PEEK plates show encouraging short-term results in the treatment of distal femur fractures with a comparable nonunion, reoperation, and hardware failure rates to those treated with SS plates. This data suggest that CFR-PEEK plates may be a viable alternative to SS plates in fixation of these fractures.

Level of evidence: Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Benzophenones
  • Bone Plates*
  • Equipment Design
  • Female
  • Femoral Fractures / diagnosis
  • Femoral Fractures / surgery*
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Fracture Fixation, Internal / methods*
  • Fracture Healing
  • Humans
  • Ketones*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Polyethylene Glycols*
  • Polymers
  • Radiography
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Benzophenones
  • Ketones
  • Polymers
  • polyetheretherketone
  • Polyethylene Glycols