[Unicondylar fractures of the femur]

ABSTRACT

Unicondylar femoral fractures account for 0.65% of all femoral fractures; they have not been studied extensively in the orthopaedic literature. Usually occurring following sports trauma or traffic accidents. These fractures involve the lateral condyle three times more frequently than the medial condyle. We bring back 11 cases treated at our institution from 1993 to 2003 [11 years]. They are 7 men and 4 women aged 45 years on average. The circumstances of occurred are as follows 8 accidents of the public highway, 2 falls and 1 industrial accident. The left side was reached in 8 cases. The fractures were divided into 6 cases of the types TRELAT, 4 cases of the type HOFFA and case of an intermediate type. 6 patients had associated lesions; it acted of three polyfractured cases of, two cases of ligament lesions of the knee [LLI, LCA, LCP] and a case of meniscal lesion. The treatment consisted of a plating for all the fractures, the average time of consolidation was 4 months. The continuations were marked by occurred of pseudarthrosis in 1 case and a case of gonarthrosis. The functional results were very good among 5 patients [bending > 120°], good at 2 patients [bending to 90°] and bad among 4 patients