Segond fracture
Segond fracture is an avulsion fracture of the knee that involves the lateral aspect of the tibial plateau and is very frequently (~75% of cases) associated with disruption of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). On the frontal knee radiograph, it may be referred to as the lateral capsular sign.
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Clinical presentation
Contrary to the more common causes of an ACL tear, which typically involve a valgus stress 3, a Segond fracture usually occurs as a result of internal rotation and varus stress 1,4. Typically these injuries are seen in two settings:
- falls
- sports: especially skiing, basketball and baseball 4
Pathology
Somewhat surprisingly, the exact cause of a Segond fracture continues to be contentious. The conventional teaching has been that it is the result of avulsion of the middle third of the lateral capsular ligaments. Other candidate structures include the iliotibial band and anterior oblique band of the fibular collateral ligament 3.
Radiographic features
Plain radiograph
The classical appearance of a Segond fracture is that of a curvilinear or elliptic bone fragment projected parallel to the lateral aspect of the tibial plateau. This has been referred to as the lateral capsular sign 1, which is best seen on the anteroposterior view of the knee.
MRI
MRI is essential in all cases of Segond fractures to identify internal derangement. Disruption of the ACL is the most common, however, there are additional frequently encountered injuries. Associated injuries include 1,3:
- ACL tear
- most common associated injury
- 75-100% of cases 6
- medial or lateral meniscal tear
- 66-75% of cases 6
- posterior horn most common
- avulsion of ACL from the tibial attachment: rare
- avulsion of fibular attachment of the long head of biceps femoris
- avulsion of the fibular collateral ligament
Treatment and prognosis
Although the fracture itself is small, the extensive ligamentous injury associated with it usually requires surgical intervention, to correct anterior rotational instability 4. Healing of the Segond fracture is associated with a particular bone excrescence arising below the lateral tibial plateau.
History and etymology
First described by Paul Ferdinand Segond, French surgeon (1851-1912) based on cadaveric experiments 1,2,4.
Differential diagnosis
Imaging differential considerations include:
-
arcuate sign: avulsion fracture of the head of the fibula 5
- fragment oriented more horizontally
Related Radiopaedia articles
Fractures
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fracture
- terminology
- fracture location
- diaphyseal fracture
- metaphyseal fracture
- physeal fracture
- epiphyseal fracture
- fracture types
- avulsion fracture
- articular surface injuries
- complete fracture
- incomplete fracture
- infraction
- compound fracture
- pathological fracture
- stress fracture
- fracture displacement
- fracture translation
- fracture angulation
- fracture rotation
- fracture length
- distraction
- impaction
- shortening
- fracture location
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skull fractures
- base of skull fractures
- skull vault fractures
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facial fractures
- fractures involving a single facial buttress
- alveolar process fractures
- frontal sinus fracture
- isolated zygomatic arch fractures
- mandibular fracture
- nasal bone fracture
- orbital blow-out fracture
- paranasal sinus fractures
- complex fractures
- fractures involving a single facial buttress
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spinal fractures
- classification (AO Spine classification systems)
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cervical spine fracture classification systems
- AO classification of upper cervical injuries
- AO classification of subaxial injuries
- Anderson and D'Alonzo classification (odontoid fracture)
- Levine and Edwards classification (hangman fracture)
- Roy-Camille classification (odontoid process fracture )
- Allen and Ferguson classification (subaxial spine injuries)
- subaxial cervical spine injury classification (SLIC)
- thoracolumbar spinal fracture classification systems
- three column concept of spinal fractures (Denis classification)
- classification of sacral fractures
-
cervical spine fracture classification systems
- spinal fractures by region
- cervical spine fractures
- thoracic spine fractures
- lumbar spine fractures
- spinal fracture types
- classification (AO Spine classification systems)
- rib fractures
- sternal fractures
-
upper limb fractures
- classification
- Rockwood classification (acromioclavicular joint injury)
- Neer classification (proximal humeral fracture)
- AO classification (proximal humeral fracture)
- Milch classification (lateral humeral condyle fracture)
- Weiss classification (lateral humeral condyle fracture)
- Bado classification of Monteggia fracture-dislocations (radius-ulna)
- Mason classification (radial head fracture)
- Frykman classification (distal radial fracture)
- Mayo classification (scaphoid fracture)
- Hintermann classification (gamekeeper's thumb)
- Eaton classification (volar plate avulsion injury)
- Keifhaber-Stern classification (volar plate avulsion injury)
- upper limb fractures by region
- shoulder
- clavicular fracture
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scapular fracture
- acromion fracture
- coracoid process fracture
- glenoid fracture
- humeral head fracture
- proximal humeral fracture
- humeral neck fracture
- arm
- elbow
- forearm
- wrist
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carpal bones
- scaphoid fracture
- lunate fracture
- capitate fracture
- triquetral fracture
- pisiform fracture
- hamate fracture
- trapezoid fracture
- trapezium fracture
- hand
- shoulder
- classification
- lower limb fractures
- classification by region
- pelvis
- hip
- Pipkin classification (femoral head fracture)
- Garden classification (hip fracture)
- American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons classification (periprosthetic hip fracture)
- Cooke and Newman classification (periprosthetic hip fracture)
- Johansson classification (periprosthetic hip fracture)
- Vancouver classification (periprosthetic hip fracture)
- femoral
- knee
- Schatzker classification (tibial plateau fracture)
- Meyers and McKeevers classification (anterior cruciate ligament avulsion fracture)
- tibia/fibula
- Watson-Jones classification (tibial tuberosity avulsion fracture)
- ankle
- foot
- Berndt and Harty classification (osteochondral lesions of the talus)
- Sanders CT classification (calcaneal fracture)
- Hawkins classification (talar neck fracture)
- Myerson classification (Lisfranc injury)
- Nunley-Vertullo classification (Lisfranc injury)
- pelvis and lower limb fractures by region
- pelvic fracture
- sacral fracture
- coccygeal fracture
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hip
- acetabular fracture
- femoral head fracture
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femoral neck fracture
- subcapital fracture
- transcervical fracture
- basicervical fracture
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trochanteric fracture
- pertrochanteric fracture
- intertrochanteric fracture
- subtrochanteric fracture
- thigh
- mid-shaft fracture
- bisphosphonate-related fracture
- knee
- avulsion fractures
- Segond fracture
- reverse Segond fracture
- anterior cruciate ligament avulsion fracture
- posterior cruciate ligament avulsion fracture
- arcuate complex avulsion fracture (arcuate sign)
- biceps femoris avulsion fracture
- iliotibial band avulsion fracture
- semimembranosus tendon avulsion fracture
- Stieda fracture (MCL avulsion fracture)
- patellar fracture
- tibial plateau fracture
- avulsion fractures
- leg
- tibial tuberosity avulsion fracture
- tibial shaft fracture
- fibular shaft fracture
- Maisonneuve fracture
- ankle
- foot
- tarsal bones
- Chopart fracture
- calcaneal fracture
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- medial cuneiform fracture
- intermediate cuneiform fracture
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- cuboid fracture
- metatarsal bones
- phalanges
- tarsal bones
- classification by region
- terminology
Knee pathology
The knee is a complex synovial joint that can be affected by a range of pathologies:
- bone and cartilage
-
knee fractures
- distal femoral condyle fracture
- tibial plateau fracture (classification)
- patella fracture
-
avulsion fractures of the knee
- Segond fracture
- reverse Segond fracture
- anterior cruciate ligament avulsion fracture
- posterior cruciate ligament avulsion fracture
- arcuate complex avulsion fracture (arcuate sign)
- biceps femoris avulsion fracture
- iliotibial band avulsion fracture
- semimembranosus tendon avulsion fracture
- Stieda fracture (MCL avulsion fracture)
- patella fracture
- chronic avulsion injuries
- dislocation
- chondromalacia patellae
- osteoarthritis of the knee
- osteochondral defects
- osteochondritis dissecans of the knee
- pattern of bone contusion in knee injuries
-
knee fractures
- ligaments
- anterior cruciate ligament tear
- anterior cruciate ligament ganglion cyst
- anterior cruciate ligament mucoid degeneration
- posterior cruciate ligament tear
- medial collateral ligament tear
- lateral collateral ligament tear
- medial patellofemoral ligament tear
- posterolateral corner injury
- posteromedial corner injury
- tendons
- meniscal lesions
-
meniscal tear
- longitudinal tear
- radial tear
- root tear
- displaced tear
- signs
- meniscal/parameniscal cyst
- meniscal flounce
- meniscal fraying
- meniscocapsular separation
-
meniscal tear
- bursosynovial lesions
- fat pad
- popliteal fossa
- fascia
- alignment
- gamut
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