Introduction: Patellar fractures were common and often
challenging to manage, particularly in the elderly population.
Achieving stable anatomic reduction and maintaining it
throughout the perioperative period was crucial for restoring
knee function, especially in patients with osteopenic bone.
Materials and methods: This was a retrospective case
series of geriatric patients who presented to our centre with
closed transverse patellar fractures between 2022 and 2023.
All fractures were classified as AO 34C1 under the
Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Osteosynthesefragen (AO)
classification and were considered fragility fractures, having
resulted from a fall from standing height. Only patients aged
over 60 years were included. All underwent open reduction
and internal fixation using cannulated screws with suture
tape augmentation. The Knee Society Score (KSS) was
evaluated at four months post-operatively, and patients were
followed for complications for up to one year.
Results: Six cases met the inclusion criteria. The mean
displacement was 19mm, and the average operative time was
45.17 minutes. The average time to radiographic union was
8.67 weeks. At a mean follow-up of 12.8 months, none of the
patients required revision surgery or hardware removal. No
patient reported issues related to implant prominence or pain
during kneeling. The KSS at four months ranged from 87 to
97, with a mean score of 91.
Conclusion: Cannulated screw fixation with suture tape
augmentation appeared to be a safe and effective method for
treating transverse patellar fractures in the elderly
population, offering stable fixation and favourable functional
outcomes.