Absorbable screws and anatomical plate of medial femoral condyle for treatment of medial condyle Hoffa fractures:good steel plate attachment and firm fixation

Qiu Chang-mao; Liu Hong-zhi; Zhang Yin-guang; Liu Zhao-jie; Tian Wei; Jia Jian

doi:10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.2015.09.015

Abstract：BACKGROUND:Medial condyle Hoffa fractures is often accompanied by joint surface grinding, so improper therapy would induce disunion of fracture or knee dysfunction. Screw fixation alone is difficult to realize entirety of comminuted fracture block. Fixation intensity is poor. In addition, common steel plate for medial condyle Hoffa fractures requires constant shaping during surgery. Moreover, it limits the direction of the screw and impacts the stability of fracture fragments after resetting. <br> OBJECTIVE:To explore the characteristics of medial condyle Hoffa fractures, and analyze the effects of absorbable screws combined with femoral condyle anatomical plate in the treatment of above fracture. <br> METHODS:Data of 12 patients with medial condyle Hoffa fractures treated with absorbable screws combined with distal medial femoral anatomic plates in the Department of Traumatic Orthopedics of Tianjin Hospital in China from May 2010 to June 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 8 males and 4 females at the age of 21-67 years, averagely 42 years. Before treatment, al patients were subjected to knee anterioposterior, lateral X-ray films and CT, and MRI examination. 12 patients received open reduction and internal fixation, intraoperative fracture with absorbable screw combined with anatomic plate fixation. After treatment, fracture healing and the knee joint function recovery were observed during fol ow-up. <br> RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Al patients were fol owed up for 16-48 months. Fractures were healed. No loosening or fracture re-displacement occurred. Flexion range of knee joint was from 110° to 135°. According to Leteneur’s functional assessment system, there were excel ent in 9 cases, good in 2 cases, fair in 1 case with the excel ent and good rate of 92%. The absorbable screw fixation can realize the entirety of articular surface of crushed bone. The absorbable screw fixation combined with anatomic plate is effective in treatment of medial condyle Hoffa fracture, which further strengthened fixation. Its operation is convenient. Steel plate attachment is good, has some advantages, such as firm fixation, less complications, early functional exercises, and good repair effects. Thus, it can provide reference for the repair of above fractures.