Application of mesh plate for the treatment of an osteochondral fracture of the medial femoral condyle with medial wall fracture: A case report

Abstract

Osteochondral fractures of the medial femoral condyle accompanied by medial wall fracture are rare. Surgeons often have difficulty in selecting the most appropriate treatment, especially the plating technique for internal fixation since the available femoral locking plates are made to fit the femoral lateral condyle and there is no anatomical plate for the medial condyle. We, herein, report a case of a 44-year-old female patient who suffered from an osteochondral fracture of the medial femoral condyle accompanied by medial wall fracture treated by a low-profile mesh plate contoured to fit around the fracture site. Bone union was achieved at postoperative week 12 and the patient was able to return to her normal activities. At the 16-month follow-up exam, the patient’s functional and clinical outcomes were satisfactory. Her Oxford knee score was 47 points, and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index scores were 2 points for pain and 5 points for physical function. We believe that the mesh plate has several advantages. This is the first report of using a mesh plate for the femur, and we were able to achieve good results. We conclude that treatment with a mesh plate can be applied in well-selected patients with medial femoral condyle osteochondral fracture and has the potential to be applied to the treatment of fractures in various regions in the future.