A selection of published medical articles (most recent first) about Fracture of the Patella (kneecap).

Because our team are always combing the medical literature for their editorial work, we thought it might be useful to others to see what we have been reading, and have put a link to the abstract available on PubMed. Where possible, we have located a copy of the full article and added a link, but your local library will also be able to obtain a reprint for you.


"In patella fracture, age >65 years and comminuted fracture pattern are predictors of increased fixation failure and postoperative stiffness, warranting special consideration."

"There is a trend toward improved functional outcomes when augmented fixation using mesh or plates is used in this group."


Comminuted Patella Fracture in Elderly Patients: A Systematic Review and Case Report. Matthews B, Hazratwala K, Barroso-Rosa S. Geriatr Orthop Surg Rehabil. 2017 Sep;8(3):135-144.

"...patellar fractures are common in adults, but rare in children. As a particular type of patellar fracture, however, sleeve fractures are almost always limited to children in the under 16's group."

"Our case report and literature review was aim to describe the clinic and imaging characteristics of superior pole sleeve fractures in adults, and highlight that physicians must be aware of this entity in adults so as to reduce misdiagnosis due to unfamiliarity."

Sleeve fracture of the adult patella: Case report and review of the literature. Xie L, Xu H, Zhang L, Xu R, Guo Y. Medicine (Baltimore). 2017 Aug;96(32):e7096. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000007096.

"Patellar fractures can occur as a result of direct or indirect injuries. Indirect injury is more common and occurs when the patella fails in tension when the force exerted by the extensor mechanism exceeds that of the bone. Common mechanism of indirect injury is rapid knee flexion with fully contracted quadriceps muscle."

ORIF Patella Fracture With a Tension Band Construct. Blum L, Hake M. J Orthop Trauma. 2017 Aug;31 Suppl 3:S8-S9. doi: 10.1097/BOT.0000000000000891.

"Fractures can be classified based on displacement, comminution, and fracture pattern, which often guide treatment."

Surgical Management of Patellar Fractures. Kakazu R, Archdeacon MT. Orthop Clin North Am. 2016 Jan;47(1):77-83.

"The incidence of patellofemoral osteoarthritis is difficult to ascertain from the literature and only few studies are available with rather controversial results."

"These patients often result in a total knee arthroplasty at young age."


Current concepts review: Fractures of the patella. Gwinner C, Märdian S, Schwabe P, Schaser K, Krapohl BD, Jung Tm. GMS Interdiscip Plast Reconstr Surg DGPW v5; 2016.

"Patellar fractures are uncommon, representing 1% of pediatric fractures. Most of these injuries are sleeve avulsions of the inferior pole. Sleeve avulsion of the superior pole is rare."

[no-lexicon]Subacute superior patellar pole sleeve fracture. Kimball MJ, Kumar NS, Jakoi AM, Tom JA. Am J Orthop (Belle Mead NJ). 2014 Jan;43(1):29-32.[/no-lexicon]

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