Mapping of Patellar Fracture Patterns: A Multicenter Study of 237 Patients

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Radiology
• Trauma Care

Background:

• Patellar fractures significantly impair knee function, ranging from simple to comminuted patterns.
• Computed tomography (CT) provides superior visualization for accurate patellar fracture classification and surgical planning compared to radiographs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze patellar fracture patterns using CT-based fracture mapping.
• To evaluate the influence of patient age, trauma-center level, and AO/OTA classification on fracture characteristics.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 237 patients with patellar fractures who underwent CT imaging.
• Fracture classification using the AO/OTA system and CT-based fracture mapping onto a standardized template.
• Statistical analysis to correlate demographics, trauma-center level, and fracture patterns.

Main Results:

• The cohort (n=237) had a mean age of 56.9 years; males were younger than females (p < 0.001).
• AO/OTA Type C fractures were most prevalent (54.4%), followed by Type B (29.9%) and Type A (15.6%).
• Fracture severity correlated positively with age (p = 0.001) and inversely with trauma-center level (p < 0.001), with complex fractures more frequent at lower-level centers.

Conclusions:

• CT-based fracture mapping effectively visualizes patellar fracture patterns, identifying the central patella as the most common injury site.
• Patient age and the level of trauma care are significant factors influencing patellar fracture severity.
• CT-based mapping is a valuable tool for enhancing surgical planning and improving treatment outcomes for patellar fractures.