Patellar Fracture Fixation With Cannulated Compression Screws and FiberTape Cerclage

Area of Science:

• Orthopaedic surgery
• Biomedical engineering
• Fracture fixation

Background:

• Transverse patella fractures impair knee function and require surgical repair.
• Current fixation methods like tension band wiring have high rates of symptomatic hardware.
• Minimizing hardware complications is crucial for patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a novel surgical technique for transverse patella fractures.
• To utilize cannulated compression screws and suture tape for fracture fixation.
• To reduce symptomatic hardware and reoperation rates.

Main Methods:

• A technical note detailing a surgical technique for transverse patella fractures.
• Employing cannulated compression screws and high-resistance suture tape.
• Suture tape functions as a tension band substitute.

Main Results:

• The described technique offers effective and reproducible fracture fixation.
• It aims to minimize symptomatic hardware complications.
• Potential reduction in failure and reoperation rates is anticipated.

Conclusions:

• This technique provides a viable alternative for treating transverse patella fractures.
• It addresses the common issue of symptomatic hardware associated with traditional methods.
• Further studies may validate long-term efficacy and patient-reported outcomes.