Treatment of patellar fractures with cannulated lag screws and tension band wires

Abstract

Objective To investigate the clinical effects of stabilizing patellar fractures with can-nulated lag screws and tension band wires. Methods From January 2006 to April 2007, 36 cases of patellar fractures were treated with cannulated lag screws and tension band wires. They were 23 females and 13males, and their ages ranged from 45 to 86 (average, 58) years old. Fractures were caused by direct force in 12 cases and by indirect force in 24 cases. After open reduction, the knees were placed in flexion, the fractures were first fixed with 2 parallel K-wires from the proximal pole or distal pole, and then four-millimeter cannulated lag screws followed K-wires across the fracture site. A wire was then threaded through the cannulated screws to create a figure-of-eight pattern tension band across the anterior surface of the patella. Results All the 36 cases were followed up for a mean of 8 months. All fractures healed without complications, such as in-cision infection, loosening of fixation, or irritation to soft tissue. Restoration of the knee joint motion was exeellent in 32 cases and good in 4 cases according to Bostman score system after 6 weeks postopera-tively. Conclusions Because stabilization of patellar fractures with tension band wires and cannulated lag screws can acquire reliable fixation, low rate of irritation and reduction loss, it is a recommendable method. Key words: Patella; Fracture; Fracture fixation,internal