Functional Outcome of Isolated Hoffa Fractures Treated with Cannulated Cancellous Screw

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.