[Comparative study of treatment of patellar fractures with tension band versus wire cerclage. Functional results]

We conducted a longitudinal, retrospective, comparative study of patients with patellar fractures treated surgically with a tension band or wire cerclage. Inclusion criteria were: male or female with any patellar fracture from January 2005 to January 2006, 18 to 45 years old, at the Orthopedic Service of General Hospital Xoco. We evaluated the following parameters: fracture pattern, surgical procedure, time to return to daily and labor activities. We found that patients treated with tension band had a earlier return to daily and labor activities than those who were treated with wire cerclage. We found no differences in consolidation time between both techniques, although men presented earlier consolidation rates than women, men returned later to daily and labor activities.