Successful hemicondylar femoral allograft for traumatic bone loss: a paediatric case study with ten years of follow-up

Abstract

The management of massive traumatic defects of the knee joint is challenging, especially in children. Massive osteoarticular allograft may be an option in this kind of traumatic bone loss. We report on the case of a male patient who (at the age of 15) suffered an open grade III condylar femoral joint fracture, with a massive bone defect and a Schatzker V tibial plateau fracture. Ten years after first-line treatment with massive osteoarticular allograft of the lateral femoral condyle, the patient's knee was capable of full extension and 90° flexion. The patient reached a point of being pain free for nine years before he subsequently developed some pain with lateral arthritis progression.

Keywords: Children; Massive allograft; Osteoarticular defect; Traumatic bone loss; Unicondylar allograft.