Publication:

Hoffa fracture: analysis of factors affecting the final outcome after treatment with partially threaded screws

Background Coronal fractures of the femoral condyles are rare injuries.

Methods This retrospective case series included patients with coronal fractures of the femoral condyles managed operatively. The surgeries were performed by authors NJ, RL and VB. A total of 11 patients with Hoffa fracture were operated between May 2011 and July 2012.

Results We report the outcome of open reduction and internal fixation using partially threaded screws in 11 patients with Hoffa fracture. There were 10 male and 1 female patient operated at a mean age of 37 years. The average duration of follow up was 15.6 months. Fractures in all the patients united with a mean 115.450 range of flexion at knee at final review. The final outcome had a poor correlation with the shear angle of the fracture but fracture comminution and open nature of injury had a negative effect on the final outcome achieved. The number of screws used and the type of rehabilitation followed post operatively also had no bearing on the final range of motion achieved.

Conclusions Partially threaded screws offer consistently good results in coronal fractures of the femoral condyles and the outcome is dictated only by perioperative factors like comminution and open nature of injury.