ABSTRACT
Objective:To investigate the clinical effect of combined treatment of comminuted inferior pole patellar fracture with micro-plate and tension-band wire.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted in 50 patients with comminuted inferior pole patellar fracture (AO classification of type 34-A1) admitted to First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China from October 2018 to October 2020, including 28 males and 22 females, aged 17-77 years［(51.4±11.5)years］. A total of 23 patients were treated with micro-plate combined with tension-band wire (Group A) and 27 patients were treated with cable wire looping combined with tension-band wire (Group B). Fracture union, union time and last follow-up evaluation of knee range of motion and Bostman score were compared between the two groups. Complications (infection, internal fixation failure, internal fixation irritation, etc.) were also observed.Results:All patients were followed up for 12-18 months［(14.1±2.1) months］. All patients had bone union, with no statistical difference between Group A［(9.9±1.8)weeks］and Group B［(10.3±1.4)weeks］in union time ( P>0.05). Knee range of motion was (129.2±9.7)° in Group A at the last follow-up, better than (122.3±11.0)° in Group B ( P<0.05). Knee Bostman score was (27.6±1.8)points in Group A, showing no statistical difference from that in Group B［(26.8±1.9)points］( P>0.05). There were no postoperative complications in Group A. Two patients with tension band shedding of Kirschner wire after fracture healing were found in Group B, with no special treatment given due to no obvious discomfort. Conclusions:For comminuted inferior pole patellar fracture, micro-plate combined with tension-band wire is more effective and provides better knee mobility with no complications of implant failure as compared with cable wire looping combined with tension-band wire. Therefore, the technique deserves clinical promotion.