Ring-Pins combined with cable cerclage for the fixation of displaced inferior patellar pole fractures

The study aimed to present the clinical results and complication rates of ring-pins with cable cerclage for treating the inferior pole of patella fracture.

A study that retrospectively reviewed consecutive patients of the displaced inferior pole of patella fracture (AO/OTA 34-A1) operated with a ring-pin tension band using cable cerclage between October 2015 and October 2017 was performed. The duration of surgery, motion range of the knee, function outcomes, and complications were recorded.

The average follow-up of 31 patients was 21 months. The mean operation time was 50 min. Fractures in all 31 patients healed at a mean duration of 8 weeks. There was no infection, no withdrawing of ring-pins, no implant breakage, and no loss of fracture reduction. The mean range of motion was 120°, and no patient complained of implant irritation at the final follow-up. The average Bostman score was 29.0 points, and 28 patients graded clinical outcomes excellent and 3 patients graded clinical outcomes good at the last follow-up.

Ring-pin combined with cable cerclage for treating the displaced inferior pole of patellar fracture is simple, and the postoperative internal fixation-related complication rate is low. It is a good choice for treating the displaced inferior pole of the patellar fracture.