Fractures of the patella. One hundred consecutive cases

The series comprises 100 patella fractures treated during the period 1974-1977. Seventy-eight patients were treated operatively. The most common operative method was partial excision, which was performed in 36 patients. Twenty-four patients were treated with equatorially placed cerclage wires, while 10 patients were treated with tension band fixation only (AO). All the operated patellas were immobilized postoperatively in a plaster cast cylinder for a mean duration of 5.2 weeks. The average observation time was 18 weeks. At follow-up attention was paid to subjective symptoms and radiological findings, clinical status and duration of incapacity for work. The clinical results were considered excellent or good in 71 patients and the subjective assessments were excellent or good in 63. Superficial infections were recorded in three cases and in seven patients the osteosynthesis had deteriorated. The results suggest that tension band fixation and partial excision of the patella are methods of choice for patellar fractures requiring operative management.