Indications and results of nonoperative treatment of patellar fractures.

It is uncontested that most patellar fractures have to be treated by open reduction and internal fixation. Nevertheless, there are well-defined types of patellar fractures in which such a procedure is unnecessary because the fracture is stable and the retropatellar surface is congruous. In these fractures internal fixation would constitute overtreatment; conservative treatment yields good results in such cases. In this report, 40 patellar fractures treated conservatively were reviewed (average, 30.5 months after injury). Results were assessed subjectively and objectively. Of the 40 patients, 80% were pain free and 90% had a full range of knee motion.