The Hoffa fracture is rare and was named for Albert Hoffa (not Jimmy). It is caused when axial compression to the knee is transmitted through the tibial plateau to one or both femoral condyles.
According to AO-ASIF (Arbeitsgemeinschaft fur Osteosynthesefragen, Association for the Study of Internal Fixation) this is coded (with distal femur as 33)
posterior coronal lateral or medial condyle: 33B3.2 (classic Hoffa fracture)
posterior coronal bicondylar: 33B3.3
Risk factors:
(1) osteoporosis (also a risk factor for problems with fixation)
(2) fall from height
(3) automobile accident
(4) other high energy trauma
It is an intra-articular fracture that may be found as an isolated fracture but is more often associated with supracondylar or intercondylar fracture.
The fracture is intrinsically unstable and prone to non-union or malunion if not treated properly with operative fixation.
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