Suture Anchor Fixation Combined With Transosseous Tunnels for a Large Patellar Osteochondral Fracture After Acute...

Patellar osteochondral fractures (OCFs) are common concomitant injuries in acute patellar dislocation, particularly in adolescents. Large free fragments (>15 mm in diameter) are relatively rare and require surgical reduction and fixation to restore articular surface congruity and prevent mechanical symptoms and secondary patellofemoral osteoarthritis. This article reports the case of a 16-year-old female athlete who sustained an acute patellar dislocation with a large patellar OCF. The osteochondral fragment was reduced and fixed using a suture anchor combined with transosseous tunnel technique, and concurrent medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction was performed. The patient had an uneventful recovery, with satisfactory fragment healing at 3-month follow-up and return to pre-injury sports activity at 12-month follow-up. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first reported case of suture anchor fixation combined with transosseous tunnels for a large patellar osteochondral fragment following acute patellar dislocation. This technique provides reliable fixation, is simple to perform, and allows rapid recovery, representing an effective treatment option for this injury pattern.