Risk Factors for Nonunion After Lateral Locked Plating of Periprosthetic Distal Femur Fractures.

Today, we’re reviewing an important new study from the Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma, August 2025 edition, titled “Risk Factors for Nonunion After Lateral Locked Plating of Periprosthetic Distal Femur Fractures.” This multicenter study from Massachusetts General and Amsterdam UMC dives deep into the common question: why do some distal femur fractures fail to heal, even when we use lateral locked plating? With over 200 patients included, the paper looks at which factors predict the need for reoperation due to nonunion—and how we might be able to prevent them.