Introduction: Isolated Hoffa fracture is an infrequent injury
and little research has been done on this subject. The purpose
of this study was to evaluate the functional outcome and
complications of surgically managed Hoffa fractures with
cannulated cancellous screw.
Materials and Methods: Between 2011 and 2014, eight
isolated Hoffa fractures in seven adult patients with mean
age 39.8±11.9 years (range 25-60 years) were managed with
cannulated cancellous screw of 6.5mm diameter applied in
anterior to posterior direction using swashbuckler and medial
parapatellar approach for lateral and medial Hoffa fractures
respectively. All patients were evaluated using knee
evaluation score after two years or longer. Mean follow up
was 28±3.8 months (range 24-36 months).
Results: All fractures in the eight patients healed clinicoradiologically
by the 16th week with excellent result in
87.5% cases and good in 12.5% cases. By the end of union,
the range of motion (ROM) of the knee was 0° to 110° except
in two patients. One patient had ROM 10°-100° and other
had 15°-90°. Mean knee evaluation score was 87.5±10.4.
There was no incidence of non-union, infection or avascular
changes in the patients or loss of reduction till final follow
up.
Conclusion: Open reduction and fixation with two 6.5 mm
cannulated cancellous screws with early mobilization
yielded good functional outcome in isolated Hoffa fractures.