J Korean Orthop Assoc.  2001 Aug;36(4):345-349.

Biomechanical Study of Fixation Techniques for Comminuted Fractures of the Inferior Pole of the Patella -Separate Vertical Wiring v.s. Partial Patellectomy

• Park SJ
• Yang KH
• Byun YS
• Lee DH

Abstract

PURPOSE
To compare the mechanical effectiveness between performing conventional partial patellectomy and the separate vertical wiring technique for a comminuted fracture of the inferior pole of the patella.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Twenty patellae from cadavers (ten pairs) were used to model acute comminuted fractures of the inferior pole of the patella. Comminuted fractures of the inferior pole of the patellae were made by an oscillating saw. Then they were fixed with separating vertical wiring on one side and the other side received a partial patellectomy by the pull-out suture technique. We measured the maximal lengths between the superior and inferior poles of the normal patella and after fixation. A biomechanical test was then performed to compare the strength of fixation in the two group.
RESULTS
The lengths of patella in the separate vertical wiring group (mean: 5.63 cm) were longer than those in the partial patellectomy group (5.24 cm). The maximal strengths of fixation in the separate vertical wiring (mean: 250.1 Newtons) were higher than in the partial patellectomy (mean: 69.7 Newtons).
CONCLUSION
A separate vertical wiring is an effective method for fixation of the comminuted fracture of the inferior pole of the patella.

Keyword

Knee; Inferior pole; Vertical wiring; Biomechanical test

MeSH Terms

Cadaver
Fractures, Comminuted*
Knee
Patella*
Suture Techniques