Operative Treatment of Isolated Bicondylar Hoffa Fracture With a Modified Swashbuckler Approach

Abstract

Introduction:

An isolated coronal fracture of either or both femoral condyles is a rare entity and is usually associated with high-energy injury trauma. Such fractures should be meticulously fixed for a good functional outcome as they involve the articular surface of a weight bearing joint. A modified swashbuckler approach provides adequate exposure for appropriate reduction and fixation of such fractures.

Case Presentation:

A 32-year-old male sustained a bicondylar Hoffa fracture of the right femur which was treated by open reduction and internal fixation using a modified swashbuckler approach. At two years of follow-up, the patient had excellent radiological and functional outcome.

Conclusions:

In our study, we treated this rare fracture successfully using a modified swashbuckler approach and found it to be a good approach for such fractures as compared to the conventional approach.

1. Introduction

Coronal fracture of distal femur is a rare entity and more so if it is a bicondylar Hoffa fracture (1). Friedrich Busch had first described this fracture (2), but later all coronal split fractures were named after Albert Hoffa (3). The Hoffa fractures more commonly are lateral condylar split fractures because the usual mechanism of injury is axial transmission of ground reaction force directed posteriorly in a flexed knee joint. Rarely, due to direct impact over the knee may direct such force transmission to both condyles leading to a bicondylar Hoffa. Such intra articular fractures are unstable and require operative fixation.

Coronal plane fractures of the distal part of the femur are markers of high-energy injury mechanisms. Hoffa fractures are commonly missed on usual anteroposterior and lateral views of plain radiographs therefore can be better appreciated on different cuts of computed tomography (CT) scans (4).

2. Case Presentation

A thirty-two year old man with a history of high energy trauma sustained a closed injury to his right knee. Patient complained of severe pain in the right knee and was unable to bear weight/walk. On physical examination, swelling was noted and tenderness was elicited with restricted range of movement in the right knee. No distal neurovascular deficits were present and patient was evaluated using plain radiographs. Radiographic evaluation revealed bicondylar Hoffa fracture of right distal femur (Figure 1). Since the fracture was involving both condyles, a conventional approach would not suffice and thus fracture fixation using Swashbuckler approach (Figure 2) was planned. The Swashbuckler approach is a lateral approach extended distally between lateral patellar retinaculum and the vastus lateralis muscle to a lateral parapatellar arthotomy. The quadriceps muscle and patella are reflected medially to expose distal femur condyles.

Figure 1. Preoperative Radiograph Showing Right Femur Hoffa Fracture.

Figure 2. Intraoperative Picture Showing the Hoffa Fracture and the Swashbuckler Approach.

Internal fixation was performed using three cancellous screws for each condyle directed anteroposteriorly. It was ensured that the entry of screws was proximal to the articular surface. Good fracture reduction was achieved. A transverse cancellous screw was also applied for proximal extent of the fracture line (Figure 3).

Figure 3. Postoperative Radiographs After Fixation.

Postoperatively, the patient was advised absolute non-weight bearing walking with walker for 3 months. Active range-of-motion exercises were started from the second postoperative day.

At the end of two years follow-up, patient had a good functional outcome including sitting cross legged and squat (Figure 4). On physical examination painless range of movement of 0 to 120 degree at the knee was noted.

Figure 4. Functional Outcome After Two Years.

Fracture union was confirmed by plain radiographs at 2 years of follow-up. The above- functional results were considered excellent using HSS scores.

3. Discussion

Physiological genu valgum makes lateral condyle very vulnerable to coronal split in a high energy trauma. Such high energy traumas are more common in adults and people associated with high-velocity sporting activities, thus explaining the mechanism of injury in a flexed and abducted knee.

Such bicondylar Hoffa fractures need to be evaluated by CT Scans because of erroneous interpretation of plain radiographs that is missing a fracture in anteroposterior view due to the intact anterior part of the condyle (5) or misinterpreting a bicondylar fracture as a unicondylar one in a lateral view.

Being an unstable fracture involving a weight bearing joint, achieving good functional outcome mandates adequate reduction of the fracture which can only be achieved by a operative technique with a good exposure (6-8).

The distal end of femur has minimal soft tissue attachment in the posterior aspect; so, if such fractures are not adequately fixed, it may lead to complications like non-union and avascular necrosis (9, 10). Operative treatment provides early functional rehabilitation and also decreases the chances of osteoarthritis. Previous studies have shown good results using parapatellar approach for such fracture fixation (11). These are usually associated with other injuries like extensor mechanism rupture (12), patellar fracture, tibial spine avulsion (13, 14) femoral shaft fracture etc. Prompt diagnosis and treatment with multiple cancellous screws using modified lateral parapatellar approach is ideal. The goal of the treatment is to achieve anatomical reduction of the joint surface with stable internal fixation so that early mobilization can be done.

For good exposure and reduction, a medial parapatellar approach is recommended whereas favorable outcomes have been achieved with anterior and lateral approaches (15).

To conclude, the bicondylar Hoffa fracture is a rare fracture and being an intraarticular fracture, it needs to be fixed meticulously. Thus, the modified swashbuckler approach provides adequate exposure for appropriate reduction and fixation of such fractures. This approach helps in minimizing complications by reducing the operative time for reduction in such complex fractures.