BACKGROUND:Open reduction and Kirschner wire tension band technique has been a traditional surgical method for the treatment of patela fracture. However, there stil exist some complications such as Kirschner wire slippage and breakage. Cable-Pin system is a new fixation device. A series of good clinical results has been achieved in patients with patela fracture using this fixation device through a minimaly invasive way. OBJECTIVE:To compare and investigate the clinical results of minimaly invasive fixation with Cable-Pin system and Kirschner wire tension band technique for patela fracture and the complications. METHODS:Eighty patients with radiology-confirmed transverse displacement of patela participated in this trial, and were randomly divided into two groups. Forty patients underwent a minimaly invasive technique and the others had conventional open surgery using Kirschner wire. At postoperative intervals of 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months, pain was measured by Visual Analogue Scale scores, range of motion was measured by goniometry, and knee function was evaluated using the Bostman clinical grading scale. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Easement of pain was better in the minimaly invasive surgery group than in the control group at 1 and 3 months after treatment (P < 0.05). Above dominance disappeared at 6 months after treatment. At 3-24 months, the knee flexion training was faster and flexion angle was greater in the minimaly invasive surgery group, and results were significantly better than in the control group (P < 0.05). The incidence of discomfort fixation-induced complications was lower in the minimaly invasive surgery group than in the conventional open surgery group (P < 0.05). These data confirm that after minimaly invasive fixation with Cable-Pin system, pain was noticeably lessened, range of motion of affected knee was great, the recovery of knee function was better, the incidence of complications was reduced, and the repair effect was better than the conventional Kirschner wire fixation.