Surgical Treatment of Patellar Fractures

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to evaluate the results of patellar fractures treated surgically.
Patients and methods: At the Ministry of Health Ankara Education and Research Hospital, 1st Orthopedic and Travmatology Clinic 47 patients with patellar fractures were treated surgically between April 1990 and November 1998. The average age of patients was 35 (19-75), whom 32 (68%) were male and 15 (32%) were female. Average follow up time was 35 months (20-62). As the fracture pattern has differed, a useful fracture classification couldn't be done. Therefore, long term results connected to treatment have been evaluated. 34 patients were treated with modified anterior tension band wiring, 3 with circumferential wire loop fixation and 2 with butterfly fixation. Findings have been evaluated according to Bostman's modifying scale and radiology findings.
Results: Good and very good results have been obtained in 86% of patients. In 34 patients treated with modified anterior tension band wiring success rate was 96%. Althought it has been performed in small number of patients, successful results have been gathered in circumferential wire loop fixation, butterfly fixation, partial patellectom, indirect reduction.
Conclusion: As a result, 86% good and very good result have been obtained. Based on the findings above, it has been found that modified anterior tension band wiring method in treatment of patella fractures is an exclusive way among the surgery method.