We treated fifty-seven consecutive ipsilateral fractures of the femur
and tibia in fifty-four adults from 1968 through 1978. Twenty-one patients
had concomitant life-threatening injuries, and in thirty-three extremities
the fractures were open. All but one of the femoral fractures and about
half of the tibial fractures were internally fixed. The length of
hospitalization averaged five weeks. Local complications included one
below-the-knee amputation, three deep infections, and four ununited
fractures. A fat embolism syndrome was diagnosed in 13 per cent of the
patients. At the last follow-up examination, at an average of 40.5 months
after injury, the mean range of motion of the knee was 129 degrees.
Over-all, a good or excellent functional result was achieved in about 80
per cent of the patients. The best results were achieved when both
fractures were stabilized surgically.