[Therapy forms and treatment results of patellar fracture]

Concerning the therapy of fractures of the patella one has to discern between non-dislocated fractures being treated conservatively and all other kinds needing an operation. Between 1984 and 1987 172 patients with fractures of the patella were treated at the University Clinic of Traumatologic Surgery in Innsbruck. Transverse and vertical fractures were the majority. 84 patients were operated and most of them by means of tension band wiring principle. After operation patients normally received a plaster for approximately five weeks. Accompanying injuries were observed in several times. In five cases we had to do a reosteosynthesis because of secondary diastasis. One patient with a refracture could finally by cured with conservative methods.