J Korean Fract Soc.  2022 Oct;35(4):142-150. 10.12671/jkfs.2022.35.4.142.

Usefulness of Percutaneous Cannulated Screws with Tension Band Wiring for Minimally Displaced Fractures of the Patella

• Lee HM
• Kim JP
• Chung PH
• Bae EW

• KMID: 2534403
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.12671/jkfs.2022.35.4.142

Abstract

Purpose
To evaluate the usefulness of percutaneous cannulated screws with tension band wiring (PC-STBW), a minimally invasive surgical technique, compared to conservative treatment for a minimally displaced patella transverse fracture.
Materials and Methods
The subjects included patients from 2010 to 2019 with transverse patella fractures, who were diagnosed as minimally displaced fractures, and were followed up for at least 1 year. Of these, 61 patients who were treated with cylinder casts were classified as Group A, and 53 patients who were treated with PCSTBW were classified as Group B. The clinical evaluation was carried out by evaluation of the radiographic bone union and calculation of the Bostman knee score. Any complications observed were investigated.
Results
All patients in both groups showed no further displacement of the fracture gap, and the bone union was achieved in all cases. The functional evaluation of the knee joint measured at the 8- and 12-week follow-up showed superior results in Group B wherein subjects were treated with surgery, and similar results were seen in both groups during the 6 months and 1-year follow-up. One case in Group A suffered the complication of knee stiffness.
Conclusion
For the treatment of minimally displaced transverse patellar fractures, both conservative treatment and PCSTBW showed similar good results at the 6-month and one-year follow-up. However, the PCSTBW technique showed superior clinical results in the early stage follow-up within 12 weeks.

Keyword

Patella; Minimally displaced patellar fracture; Percutaneous cannulated screws with tension band wiring