Salvage of a 5-Year Neglected Distal Femur Nonunion in a Refugee: A Case Report
Abstract
Case: A 38-year-old woman was found to have a closed, chronically displaced left distal femur fracture sustained 5 years prior while living in South America. Prompt surgical intervention in her home country was inaccessible, leading to non-union, functional impairment, leg shortening, and soft tissue contractures. Dual-plate fixation, bone grafting, and quadricepsplasty were performed and the patient's function and mobility were restored to a degree commensurate with daily requirements.
Conclusion: Chronically displaced distal femur fractures with nonunion, shortening, and soft tissue contractures can be safely and effectively managed with dual-plating, bone grafting, and quadricepsplasty.
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Evidence Hub reads this as a case report, done in people. Its evidence level is 5 of 5 (Very low · case / narrative / animal / in vitro / in silico). Case reports, narrative reviews, and animal, cell or computer-model studies give the weakest evidence for human health.
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