Treatment of distal femur fractures in a regional Australian hospital

Table 4 Comparison of complication rates for the implant treatment groups n(%)

	Surgical Implant				P-value
	LISS(n = 20)	LISS-R(n = 11)	LISS-N(n = 9)	Alternative(n = 8)	LISS vs alternative	LISS-R vs LISS-N	LISS-R vs LISS-N vs alternative
Complications of healing
Non-union	6 (30)	2 (18)	4 (44)	2 (25)	1.0000	0.3359	0.5065
Delayed union	0	0	0	1 (13)	0.28571	n/a	0.28571
Varus/valgus malalignment	5 (25)	2 (18)	3 (33)	4 (50)	0.3715	0.6169	0.3627
Recurvation	2 (10)	2 (18)	0	0	1.00001	0.47891	0.31481
Limb shortening	3 (15)	1 (9)	2 (22)	1 (13)	1.00001	0.56581	0.80661
Superficial infection	2 (10)	2 (18)	0	0	1.00001	0.47891	0.31481
Implant related complications
Implant malpositioning	2 (10)	1 (9)	1 (11)	n/a2	n/a	1.00001	n/a
Proximal screw pullout	1 (5)	0	1 (11)	n/a2	n/a	0.45001	n/a
Implant failure	4 (20)	1 (9)	3 (33)	1 (13)	1.00001	0.28481	0.46411

¹Less than 2 observations in a group makes this P-value unreliable;

²These complications are LISS specific. LISS: Less Invasive Stabilization System.