Nonunion of a Hoffa fracture in a child

The authors report a case of a Hoffa fracture of the lateral femoral condyl e that subsequently went on to nonunion in an eight-year-old child. The chi ld presented with symptoms of knee pain and snapping five years after a mot or vehicle accident. The nonunion fragment involved most of the lateral fem oral condylar articular surface but spared the physis. After treatment by o pen reduction and limited internal fixation, the nonunion has healed, and t he child has virtually full range of motion of the knee and no evidence of growth disturbance.