Modified basket plate for inferior patellar pole avulsion fractures: a report of three cases

In patients who have sustained an avulsion fracture of the inferior patellar pole, the extensor mechanism is disrupted and should be repaired. The normal height of the patella can be maintained by preserving the patellar pole, but fractures of the inferior pole of the patella are not easy to reduce and fix firmly. In contrast with partial patellectomy, which requires postoperative immobilization, internal fixation with a basket plate allows for immediate mobilization and early weight-bearing. Owing to the unavailability of the basket plate in Taiwan, we have modified the plate with the titanium mesh as a possible alternative. We present three cases of this modified basket plate, which took place between 2008 and 2010. This technique avoided long-term immobilization of the knee with good clinical results.