[Patellectomy after trauma: is there a correlation between the timing and the clinical outcome].

AIM OF THE STUDY: Is there a correlation between the timing of patellectomy after trauma in crush injuries and the clinical outcome?

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of 21 patients who had undergone patellectomy after trauma.

RESULTS

In 12 patients (57.1%) a primary patellectomy was performed within 4 weeks after the fracture; in the remaining 9 (42.9%) patients the procedure was performed after an average of 21 months (range 2-72). Nineteen patients could be followed up after 9.3 years (range 3-18). In 10 of these, patellectomy had been performed primarily. The HSS Knee Score was 68.4 points (range 39-83) on average for all patients. For patients with a primary patellectomy the score was 71 points (range 54-83), while for patients in whom the patellectomy was performed secondarily the score was 63.8 points (range 39-77). The evaluated ROM was 113.6 degrees for all patients; in the primary group ROM was 122.5 degrees (range 65-145 degrees ), and in the secondary group it was 103 degrees (range 85-145 degrees ). The difference was not statistically significant for either parameter.

CONCLUSION

Primary reconstruction of the patella is recommended in multifragmentary fractures; if the outcome is poor, however, patellectomy should be considered early.