Follow-up Results of Juxta-articular Fracture in the Knee

Abstract

Seventy cases of juxta-articular fracture in the knee, seen in our outpatient clinic from January, 1960 to December, 1970 were reviewed by correspondence and examination.Eighty eight fractures in seventy cases except fracture of the patella as follows: twenty-one fracture sites in supracondyle femur, eleven in the condyle with joint surface, four only in the condyle, twelve in the intercondylar tubercle area of the tibia, thirteen in the condyle of tibia with joint surface, four only in the condyle, fourteen in proximal a third of the tibia and nine in the head of fibula.Age of the patients ranged between four to sixty-six. However, this type of fracture is more common in male paients from second decade to fourth decade.Follow-up results were reviewed from a point of view of deformity, pain, instability, and range of motion of the knee joint.Fractures in tibia remained in wide range of motion in the knee joint, but that in distal end of the femur of the adult, even only in a condyle, in poor result in range of motion. Conservative treatment, such as traction, etc, revealed better result than operative management. It is cosidered that generally speaking, operative treatment was selectively done in severe cases with dislocation of fracture fragment, and surgical maneuvering might add injuries in the soft tissues around the joint.Six cases out of twelve with the intercondylar tubercle fracture were revealed non-union but remained in wide range of motion unless associated with other complication.