Cannulated screws with sutures for treatment of transverse patellar fractures / 中华创伤骨科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To evaluate the clinical efficacy of cannulated screws with sutures in the treatment of patellar transverse fractures.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed of the data of 70 patients with patellar transverse fracture who had been admitted to Senior Department of Orthopedics, The Fourth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital from January 2017 to March 2021. According to the construction methods for the tension band, the patients were divided into 3 groups. In group A of 21 cases subjected to fixation with cannulated screws with sutures (Fiber-Tape), there were 8 males and 13 females with a median age of 55.0 (48.0, 65.0) years; in group B of 32 cases subjected to fixation with Kirschner wire tension band, there were 15 males and 17 females with a median age of 52.5 (41.5, 63.0) years; in group C of 17 cases subjected to fixation with Cable-Pin system, there were 5 males and 12 females with a median age of 55.0 (37.0, 65.0) years. The 3 groups were compared in terms of complications, secondary surgery (removal of internal fixation), operation time, intraoperative blood loss and knee function rated by the Lysholm and B?stman scores at the last follow-up.Results:There were no significant differences in the preoperative general data between the 3 groups, showing they were comparable ( P > 0.05). There was no significant difference in the operation time, intraoperative blood transfusion or follow-up time among the 3 groups ( P > 0.05). The incidence of soft tissue irritation [4.8% (1/21)] and the secondary operation rate [4.8% (1/21)] in group A were significantly lower than those in group B [43.8% (14/32) and 37.5% (12/32)] and group C [41.2% (7/17) and 35.3% (6/17)] ( P < 0.05), but there was no statistically significant difference between group B and group C ( P > 0.05). In groups A, B and C, respectively, the Lysholm knee score was 84.0 (69.0, 88.0), 89.0 (71.5, 95.0) and 82.0 (63.0, 90.0), and the B?stman knee score 26.0 (23.0, 28.0), 26.5 (24.0, 27.5) and 26.0 (22.0, 28.0), showing no significant difference ( P > 0.05). There was no significant difference either in the incidence of other complications among the 3 groups ( P > 0.05). Conclusion:In the treatment of patellar transverse fractures, compared with the Kirschner wire tension band and Cable-Pin system, cannulated screws with sutures (Fiber-Tape) may lead to a lower incidence of soft tissue irritation and a lower rate of secondary surgery, but no significant differences in operation time, intraoperative blood loss, other complications or postoperative functional scores.