Biomechanical Evaluation of Suture Augmentation of Dorsal Locking Plate Fixation in Transverse Patella Fractures

Adjunctive suture augmentation of patellar plate fixation has yet to be investigated. Our biomechanical study sought to evaluate whether suture augmentation improves dorsal patellar locking plate fixation. Our hypothesis was that suture augmentation would improve fixation of this construct.

A transverse patella fracture in six matched cadaveric pairs was stabilized using a patellar locking plate with or without suture augmentation. Specimens were tested at 60° knee flexion with load placed through quadriceps. Cyclic loading followed by load to failure was done. Stiffness, deformation at peak, and nonrecoverable deformation were calculated.

During cyclic loading, suture augmentation demonstrated a higher average stiffness throughout all loads. At the final cycle, deformation was markedly higher without suture augmentation. Average load to failure was higher with suture augmentation. Maximum load to failure occurred at 2500 N in both groups.

Suture augmentation in a transverse patellar fracture model improved dorsal plate fixation, leading to less fracture displacement at the final load. Although suture augmentation demonstrated higher stiffness and lower deformation, these trends were not statistically significant. In both groups, plate fixation sustained very high loads, which reflects the fixation strength of the dorsal locking plate and screw construct in this fracture model.