Case reports: pathologic fracture of the patella from a gouty tophus

Fracture of the patella is a relatively common condition seen in patients with trauma. We report one patient with known gout who sustained relatively minor trauma that resulted in a patellar fracture. An intraoperative biopsy confirmed that much of the patella had been replaced with gouty tophus. Gout is a rare cause of patellar fracture, with few documented cases. Postoperative management of patients with patella fractures secondary to gout may be routine with the addition of medical management for the underlying pathologic process.