Late recognition of an early catastrophic failure of a carbon fiber reinforced distal femoral plate: A case report()

The use of carbon fiber reinforced implants to address distal femur fractures has gained in popularity due to their favorable mechanical characteristics and potential for improved healing. The failure of metal locked plates for this application has been widely reported. Here is presented a novel case of early failure of a carbon fiber reinforced polyetheretherketone (PEEK) plate applied for a distal femur fracture. This is the first known report of failure of a carbon fiber reinforced distal femur plate in a patient with a traumatic fracture. Due to the radiolucent characteristics of the plate, the failure was not immediately recognized. While there may be advantages to these plates, early catastrophic failure can still occur.