Lateral femoral condylar shearing fractures.
Lateral femoral condylar shearing fractures occur as the aftermath of acute patellar dislocation. The fracture fragment may be larger than originally appreciated on plain films. Diagnosis depends on identifying the fracture fragment somewhere within the knee joint, and the "donor site" on the lateral femoral condyle. Therefore, MRI or arthroscopy should be performed to identify the true size of the fracture fragment. The larger of these fragments may require surgical intervention with fixing of the fracture fragment onto the lateral condyle with screws. We present the radiographic and clinical findings in seven patients.
Swischuk
Leonard E
LE
Department of Radiology, The University of Texas Medical Branch Children's Hospital, Galveston, TX 77555-0365, USA. lswischu@utmb.edu
Hernandez
J Alberto
JA
Hendrick
Eric P
EP
Yngve
David A
DA
Carmichael
Kelly D
KD