Description

Condyle of Distal Femur (Right & Left) Summary:

• Epidemiology

  • Incidence
    • Common
      • 3-6% of femur fractures
        • <1% of all fractures

  • Demographics

    • bimodal distribution
      • young healthy males

      • elderly osteopenic females

• Pathophysiology

  • Mechanism
    • young patients
      • high energy with significant displacement

    • older patients
      • low energy, often fall from standing, in osteoporotic bone, usually with lesser degree of displacement

• Anatomy

  • Osteology
    • anatomical axis of the distal femur is 6-11 degrees of valgus
      • medial condyle extends more distal than lateral

    • distal femur becomes trapezoidal in cross-section towards the knee
      • lateral cortex of femur slopes ~10 degrees, medial cortex slopes ~25 degrees in the axial plane 

    • posterior halves of both condyles are posterior to the posterior cortex of femoral shaft

  • Muscles

    • key deforming forces
      • quadriceps

      • hamstrings

      • adductor magnus

      • gastrocnemius

  • Ligaments

    • anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)

    • posterior cruciate ligament (PCL)

    • medial collateral ligament (MCL)

    • lateral collateral ligament (LCL)

     

    Biomechanics (Condyle of Distal Femur (Right & Left))

    • hamstring and quadriceps
      • cause the femur to shorten

    • adductor magnus
      • leads to distal femoral varus or valgus
        • direction of deformity is dependent on the location of comminution and the relation of fracture lines to the adductor tubercle

    • gastrocnemius
      • extension at the fracture site (apex posterior)

      • rotation of condyles when an intercondylar split is present

• Classification

  • Descriptive
    • supracondylar

    • intercondylar