TrAFFIx

Fractures of the lower thigh bone (distal femur) are uncommon but serious injuries, most often affecting older adults, though they can also occur in younger people after major accidents. Two main surgical treatments have been used — fixing the bone with a metal plate or inserting a metal rod (nail) inside the bone — but it was not previously clear which worked best. Plates are designed to support weaker bones but require a larger operation and cost more, while nails may promote better healing with less disruption to the bone.
The TrAFFIx study was a feasibility study comparing these two methods.

External Links

Here are relevant links to the study...

• [Main Study Results] Intramedullary nails versus distal locking plates for fracture of the distal femur: results from the Trial of Acute Femoral Fracture Fixation (TrAFFix) randomised feasibility study and process evaluation
• [Qualitative Results] Facilitating trial recruitment: A qualitative study of patient and staff experiences of an orthopaedic trauma trial