A novel anatomical patellar plate for transverse patellar fracture - A biomechanical in-vitro study

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the safety and stability of our novel anatomical patellaplate and to compare its stability with tension band-wire technique.Methods: A total of 12 cadaveric preserved knees (six right and six left patellae) with close patellar sizewere chosen to form two groups of six samples. Each group received either plate or tension band-wiringŞxation for an experimentally created patella fracture. Cyclic load of an average of 350 N was applied forall specimens and after accomplishing 50 cycles the displacements of all fracture edges were recorded.Results: After completing 50 cycles in each group, the average fracture edges displacement measured inthe plate group was 1.98± 0.299 mm, whereas the average fracture edges displacement measured in thetension band-wire group was 2.85± 0.768 mm (p ¼ 0.016).Conclusion: In the operative treatment of displaced transverse patellar fractures, the strength ofŞxationobtained by titanium curved plates is highly stronger when compared to theŞxation with a tensionband-wire technique. Fixation with titanium curved plates provides satisfactory stability at the fracturesite which allow withstanding the cyclic loads during the postoperative rehabilitation.