Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38874493›Full record

ArticleActa orthopaedica2024

Fragment size of lateral Hoffa fractures determines screw fixation trajectory: a human cadaveric cohort study.

Christian Peez, Ivan Zderic, Adrian Deichsel, Moritz Lodde, R Geoff Richards, Boyko Gueorguiev, Christoph Kittl, Michael J Raschke, Elmar Herbst

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Acta orthopaedica, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Simulated gastrocnemius traction alters interfragmentary motion in Hoffa fracture fixation.European journal of trauma and emergency surgery : official publication of the European Trauma Society · 2025
    Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Christian PeezAO Research Institute Davos, Davos, Switzerland; Department of Trauma, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany. christian.peez@ukmuenster.de.
Ivan ZdericAO Research Institute Davos, Davos, Switzerland.
Adrian DeichselDepartment of Trauma, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany.
Moritz LoddeDepartment of Trauma, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany.
R Geoff RichardsAO Research Institute Davos, Davos, Switzerland.
Boyko GueorguievAO Research Institute Davos, Davos, Switzerland.
Christoph KittlDepartment of Trauma, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany.
Michael J RaschkeDepartment of Trauma, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany.
Elmar HerbstDepartment of Trauma, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

background and purposeRecommendations regarding fragment-size-dependent screw fixation trajectory for coronal plane fractures of the posterior femoral condyles (Hoffa fractures) are lacking. The aim of this study was to compare the biomechanical properties of anteroposterior (AP) and crossed posteroanterior (PA) screw fixations across differently sized Hoffa fractures on human cadaveric femora. PATIENTS AND

methods4 different sizes of lateral Hoffa fractures (n = 12 x 4) were created in 48 distal human femora according to the Letenneur classification: (i) type I, (ii) type IIa, (ii) type IIb, and (iv) type IIc. Based on bone mineral density (BMD), specimens were assigned to the 4 fracture clusters and each cluster was further assigned to fixation with either AP (n = 6) or crossed PA screws (n = 6) to ensure homogeneity of BMD values and comparability between the different test conditions. All specimens were biomechanically tested under progressively increasing cyclic loading until failure, capturing the interfragmentary movements via motion tracking.

resultsFor Letenneur type I fractures, kilocycles to failure (mean difference [∆] 2.1, 95% confidence interval [CI] -1.3 to 5.5), failure load (∆ 105 N, CI -83 to 293), axial displacement (∆ 0.3 mm, CI -0.8 to 1.3), and fragment rotation (∆ 0.5°, CI -3.2 to 2.1) over 5.0 kilocycles did not differ significantly between the 2 screw trajectories. For each separate subtype of Letenneur type II fractures, fixation with crossed PA screws resulted in significantly higher kilocycles to failure (∆ 6.7, CI 3.3-10.1 to ∆ 8.9, CI 5.5-12.3) and failure load (∆ 275 N, CI 87-463 to ∆ 438, CI 250-626), as well as, less axial displacement from 3.0 kilocycles onwards (∆ 0.4°, CI 0.03-0.7 to ∆ 0.5°, CI 0.01-0.9) compared with AP screw fixation.

conclusionIrrespective of the size of Letenneur type II fractures, crossed PA screw fixation provided greater biomechanical stability than AP-configured screws, whereas both screw fixation techniques demonstrated comparable biomechanical competence for Letenneur type I fractures. Fragment-size-dependent treatment strategies might be helpful to determine not only the screw configuration but also the surgical approach.

Indexed as

Bone ScrewsCadaverFemoral FracturesFracture Fixation, InternalAgedAged, 80 and overBiomechanical PhenomenaBone DensityCohort StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle Aged

Identifiers

PMID38874493
PMCPMC11177862

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.