Extract
A coronal plane fracture of the femoral condyle (creating a so-called Hoffa
fragment) has been well described in association with fractures of the
supracondylar-intercondylar region of the distal part of the
femur1. This
fracture has implications with regard to preoperative planning, the choice of
surgical approach, implant selection, and functional outcomes.Coronal plane fractures of the distal part of the femur are markers of
high-energy injury mechanisms. Their presence warrants a thorough workup for
other injuries associated with high-energy trauma such as fractures of the
spine, pelvis, femoral neck, tibial plateau, ankle, and calcaneus. A Hoffa
fracture can often be missed on plain radiographs. Nork et al. showed that up
to 30% of coronal plane fractures were missed on plain radiographs of distal
femoral fractures, often necessitating the use of computerized tomography for
identification and preoperative
planning2.