[Results of treatment of patellar fractures]

In a retrospective study the long-term results after treatment of 140 fractures of the patella were rated with a knee score. Compared with other studies our results were slightly better, although we did not have a smaller rate of comminuted fractures. Most cases were treated with tension band wiring. K-wires, partial and total patellectomy--compared with other studies--were rarely used, even in severe fracture types. The AO-classification in our study did not satisfy at all. For that reason, we suggest a new classification which should be useful to predict the outcome of patella fractures and give guidelines for treatment.