Treatment of fractures of the patella with percutaneous suture

One hundred seven patients with fractures of the patella were treated by percutaneous suture. The method has the advantage of being simple and relatively nontraumatic. The reduction and the functional recovery were generally excellent. The reduction was poor in five cases, three of which had open reduction and internal fixation. After the percutaneous suture with steel wire is in place, the wire provides sufficient strength for internal fixation. The quadriceps expansion needs no repair. Neither open reduction nor percutaneous suture with cerclage solves the problem of the tendency of the fracture fragments to gap anteriorly. Percutaneous suture without Kirschner-wire internal fixation, with the principle of tension-band wiring, is adequate.