Can Anterior Knee Pain Be Explained by Patella Position After Infrapatellar Tibia Intramedullary Nailing?

The objective of this study is to investigate the postoperative position of the patella and its relationship with anterior knee pain in patients operated with infrapatellar reamed tibia intramedullary nailing (IMN).

Patients who underwent tibia IMN between 2019 and 2022 and who had anterior knee pain in their postoperative follow-up at least two outpatient clinic controls with an interval of at least one month were examined. Patellar height indices (Insall-Salvati, Blackburne-Peel, Caton-Deschamps, and modified Insall-Salvati) and sagittal angulation (patella-patellar tendon angles) were measured on the lateral direct radiographs of the patients in semi-flexion. As a control group, measurements were made on the contralateral intact extremity radiographs of the same patients.

There was no significant difference in patellar height indices between the fractured and intact sides in any of the patients (p = 0.588; p = 0.747; p = 0.446; p = 0.573, respectively). When the sagittal angulations were analyzed, a significant difference was found between the fractured and intact sides of the patients (p = 0.048), resulting in an approximate three-degree change.

Patellar sagittal balance has been identified as one of the contributing factors to the development of anterior knee pain following reamed tibial IMN. Further biomechanical and comprehensive clinical studies are needed on this subject.