ABSTRACT
Objective:To compare the clinical efficacy between hand plating system (HPS) and classic suture anchor fixation in the treatment of patellar inferior pole fractures.Methods:The clinical data were analyzed retrospectively of the 56 patients who had been treated for patellar inferior pole fractures at Department of Orthopaedics, General Hospital of Northern Theatre Command from January 2018 to December 2019. They were assigned into 2 groups according to their internal fixation methods. In group A of 30 cases subjected to HPS fixation, there were 18 males and 12 females with an age of (61.7±11.3) years; in group B of 26 cases subjected to suture anchor fixation, there were 16 males and 10 females with an age of (60.0±10.5) years. The incision length, operation time, intraoperative bleeding, fracture union time, pain visual analog scale (VAS)and knee function one year postoperation, and follow-up complications were compared between the 2 groups.Results:There was no significant difference in the preoperative general data between the 2 groups, showing comparability( P>0.05). The operation time in group A [(59.4±10.8) min] was significantly shorter than that in group B [(66.5±12.3) min] ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the incision length or intraoperative bleeding between the 2 groups ( P>0.05). The bone union time was respectively(11.2±1.8) weeks and (12.1±2.4) weeks and the postoperative VAS respectively 0.85±0.12 and 0.91±0.14 for groups A and B, showing no significant difference between the 2 groups ( P>0.05). The knee flexion angle (124.5°±14.6°) and knee Bostman score (29.3±3.5) in group A were significantly better than those in group B (113.2°±11.1° and 26.2±2.9) one year postoperation( P<0.05). Follow-up revealed no complication in group A but 2 cases of implant failure in group B. Conclusion:Compared with the classical anchor suture fixation, HPS may obtain stronger fixation, shorter operation time and better knee function.