Clinical Comparative Study on the Treatment of Inferior Pole Fractures of Patella by Double-row Anchor Suture Bridge Technique Combined with Kirschner Wire Tension Band Internal Fixation

Objective: To investigate the method, technique and clinical efficacy of double-row anchor suture bridge technique in the treatment of inferior pole fractures of patella, and to compare it with traditional Kirschner wire tension band internal fixation. Methods: General information A total of 62 patients were enrolled in this study, including 35 males and 27 females, aged 31-80 years old, with an average of (53.2±4) years old. All the patients were divided into two groups by a random double-blind method: Group A (double-row anchor suture bridge technique group) and Group B (Kirschner wire tension band internal fixation group), with 32 cases and 30 cases in each group, respectively. The two techniques were performed by the same group of doctors to fix the fracture respectively, and the intraoperative bleeding, operation time, incidence of postoperative complications, knee function score, etc., were compared between the two techniques. Results: Group A (double-row anchor suture bridge technique group): operation time 56-80min, with an average of (60±10) min; intraoperative blood loss 30-56ml, with an average of (43±10) ml. All incisions healed in one stage and stitches were removed after 2 weeks. No complications such as incision infection, flap necrosis and nerve injury occurred. The average healing time of the fracture was 12 weeks. At the last follow-up, the Bostman score was (28.5±3.3), and the excellent rate was 93.7%. Group B (Kirschner wire tension band internal fixation group): operation time 54-76min, with an average of (56±10) min; intraoperative blood loss 31-50ml, with an average of (43±80) ml. One patient developed delayed incision healing postoperatively. Four patients experienced Kirschner wire withdrawal, one of which was accompanied by infection. Two patients were found to have mild separation of distal fracture fragments, despite the fracture being fine. The average healing time of the fracture was 13 weeks. At the last follow-up, the Bostman score was (23.5±3.3), and the excellent rate was 86.7%. Conclusion: Double-row anchor suture bridge technique is applied to inferior pole fractures of patella by virtue of its various effects, such as the complete preservation of the inferior pole fragments during the operation, satisfactory fracture reduction, firm fixation, and meeting patients’ requirements for early postoperative ambulation. This technology is superior to traditional Kirschner wire tension band internal fixation owing to its advantages of no need to take out the internal fixation, firm fixation, no need to worry about Kirschner wire withdrawal and fewer complications, and its clinical efficacy satisfaction rate is also better than traditional surgical methods. In short, double-row anchor suture bridge technique is an ideal surgical procedure for the treatment of the inferior pole fracture of patella with safety, reliability and high satisfaction.

Functional outcome among patients treated by percutaneous cannulated screw with tension band for transverse patella fracture

Introduction: Tension band wiring is the most commonly used treatment method for transverse patella fracture. Tension band construct can be achieved by various modifications. Percutaneous cannulated screw with tension band is a minimally invasive technique with stiffer fixation that follows tension band principle. This study aims to assess the clinical and radiological outcome using percutaneous cannulated screw with tension band for the management of transverse patella fracture. Methods: This was a prospective study among 30 adult patients who had closed displaced transverse patella fracture. Patients with polytrauma, comminuted fracture, neurovascular injury and prior injury to the limb were excluded from the study. Each patient was followed up at 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 3 months and 6 months postoperatively. Results: Among all surgically treated patients using this technique, Pain gradually decreased over time and was less than VAS score of 1 in all patients at 6 months follow-up with an average score of 0.3. The final range of motion at 6 months was: flexion ranging from 122 to 145 degrees and extension lag from of 0 to 8 degrees. There was significant improvement in range of motion of knee in each follow up. The mean duration for fracture union was 11.4±2.3 weeks. There were no cases of nonunion and hardware failure. The mean Lyshom score was 82.5 at final follow up. Conclusions: The percutaneous fixation of transverse patella fracture with cannulated screw and SS wire is safe and effective method which gives good functional outcome.

Clinico-radiological and functional outcome of surgical management of displaced transverse fracture of patella in adults managed by tension band wiring in a tertiary care hospital in North India: a prospective study

Background: Patella is the largest sesamoid bone in the quadriceps tendon in the body. The main function of patella is to improve the efficiency of quadriceps muscle by improving the mechanical leverage of the quadriceps muscle. There are various methods used for fixation of these fractures. Tension band wiring (TBW) works by converting tensile forces into compressive forces when movements occur at the knee joint. The aim of our study was to evaluate the clinico-radiological and functional outcome of surgical management of displaced transverse fracture of patella in adults managed by TBW.Methods: This was the prospective study of 22 patients aged 20 to 60 years (mean age 41.4 years) with displaced transverse fractures of patella managed by TBW.Results: The final outcome was observed at 6 months follow up. The results were comparable with the existing literature. Radiological union was achieved within 10 to 16.2 weeks, with an average of 12.4 weeks. Out of 22, (n=16, 72.7%) had excellent outcome, (n=5, 22.7%) had good functional outcome, (n=1, 4.5%) had fair outcome. Complications were observed in 6 (27.3%) patients.Conclusions: It is concluded that the surgical treatment with TBW is the best treatment in the management of displaced transverse fractures of patella.

Management of ankle valgus in a skeletally immature patient by tension band plate hemiepiphysiodesis: A case report

Temporary hemiepiphysiodesis is the procedure of choice to correct ankle valgus deformity in a skeletally immature patient. However, the literature is inconclusive regarding the ideal choice of implant and the timing of the surgery. In the current case report, a 9-year-old girl with multiple hereditary exostoses and unilateral ankle valgus deformity underwent tension band plate (TBP) hemiepiphysiodesis, and gained a modest correction at a rate of 0.61°/month. After 18 months of follow-up, there were no implant-related complications, and the functional outcome was also good. This case report shows a promising result of medial malleolar temporary hemiepiphysiodesis using a TBP for ankle valgus deformity in the pediatric population.

Outcome of Transverse Patella Fractures Fixed With Cannulated Screws and Stainless Steel Tension Band Wiring

Background: Tension band supplemented by K-wires has long been the definitive technique for patellar fractures fixation. However, it is not without drawbacks. The stainless streel cable-cannulated screw tension band technique, may shorten healing time, decrease the complications and provide early range of knee motion. Herein, the current study evaluates the clinical and radiological outcome of this surgical modality. Methods: This prospective study was conducted on 21 patients (13 males and 8 females) with transverse fracture patella from June 2017 to April 2021. The surgical fixation consisted of two 4.0-mm parallel partially threaded cannulated cancellous screws with a figure-of-eight stainless steel tension band wiring. Follow-up was at least 10 months. Assessment criteria included the Lysholm score for knee function, ROM, VAS for pain, fracture reduction, fracture healing time, and complication rates. After 3 postoperative weeks, slab was removed and immediate rehabilitation were commenced.Results: The average Lysholm scores were 82.9 ± 4.4 SD, 87.8 ± 5.3 SD, and 92.7 ± 3.6 SD after 3, 6, and 10 months, respectively. VAS scores for pain were 2.6 ± 3.0 SD, 1.4 ± 2.6 SD, and 0.5 ± 2.3 SD at 3, 6 and 10-month, respectively. The patients had gained total ROM after 3, 6 and 10 months. The mean fracture healing time was 2.1 months (range, 1.5 - 3.1 months). Two patients experienced skin irritation by wire tails.Conclusion: The stainless steel cannulated screws and tension band construct provides a good alternative in treatment of transverse patellar fractures. It could yield stable fixation, low complication rate while providing early mobilization and accelerated rehabilitation.

Tibial Tuberosity Transposition Fixation with a Locking Plate during Medial Patellar Luxation Surgery: An Ex Vivo Mechanical Study

Objectives The purpose of this study was to compare the load at failure, stiffness and mode of failure between three types of tibial tuberosity transposition fixation techniques: (a) pin and figure-8 tension band wire (Pin-TBW), (b) locking plate with pin and a tension band wire (Plate-Pin-TBW) and (c) locking plate with a pin (Plate-Pin). Methods Six pairs of raccoon dog cadaveric tibiae were tested in Phase I Pin-TBW versus Plate-Pin-TBW and seven pairs in Phase II Plate-Pin-TBW versus Plate-Pin. One limb of each pair was randomly assigned to one of two groups for each phase. A tensile force was applied to the patellar ligament until construct failure. Results Pin-TBW (342N ± 54.7N) failed at a lower load than Plate-Pin-TBW (469N ± 77.3N), p = 0.00748, with all Pin-TBW failing by fracture and the majority of Plate-Pin-TBW failing by rupture of patellar ligament. Pin-TBW group Phase I, normalized with Plate-Pin-TBW Phase I, failed at a lower load than Plate-Pin group Phase II, normalized with Plate-Pin-TBW Phase II, p = 0.00467. There was no significant difference in mean load at failure, stiffness or mode at failure between the groups in the Phase II study. Clinical Significance Although ex vivo mechanical testing does not replicate the postoperative live dog or cat, these results demonstrate lower construct strength of the Pin-TBW construct compared with the Plate-Pin construct in the raccoon dog cadaver model.