Morphology of the coronal fractures in the femoral supracondylar and intercondylar fractures: a retrospective study

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Abstract Background Previous studies reported the incidence of coronal fractures in the supracondylar-intercondylar fractures. We knew a little about the morphology of those fractures. Thus, we decided to describe the characteristics of the coronal fractures in AO/OTA type 33.C3 fractures and compare their differences to Busch-Hoffa fractures. Methods We retrospectively collected 166 patients with supracondylar-intercondylar fractures, including two bilateral fractures. We drew three-dimensional fracture maps according to CT images and measured two angles: angle α (coronal fracture intersected the posterior condyle axis in the axis plane) and angle β ( coronal fracture intersected the posterior femoral cortex in the sagittal plane). Results Thirty-three cases (30%) of AO/OTA type 33.C fractures contained coronal fragments. Most of them were type 33.C3 fractures. Angles α and β of the type 33.C3 were smaller than those of the type B3 at the lateral condyle, while the angles at the medial condyle were not significantly different. The fracture maps showed the coronal fractures and the articular comminution area were more anterior in the type 33.C3. An uncommon coronal fracture type in the type 33.C3 and C2 was found: the metaphysis was crushed and the posterior condyle was multifragmentary in the type C3 or simply fractured in the type C2 with a coronal fracture on it. Conclusions The incidence of coronal fractures was 30% in AO/OTA type 33.C and 67% in type 33.C3. The coronal fractures in the type 33.C3 were different from those in the type 33.B3 and should be treated specially.

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