Comparative biomechanical analysis of supracondylar femur fracture fixation: locked intramedullary nail vs. 95/spl deg/ angled plate

Twelve matched pairs of fresh frozen human cadaveric femurs were tested in axial and torsional loading followed by implantation of an intramedullary nail or a 95/spl deg/ angled plate. An equal number of screws were used above the fracture, in either a grouped or dispersed configuration. Each femur was then tested with progressively more severe simulated fracture patterns. The plate with the dispersed screw configuration had the greatest torsional stiffness (p<0.0001). No significant difference was found in axial or torsional stiffness for nail or plate groups when analysing by increasing fracture severity.