Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Although there are many internal fixation materials for clinical treatment of patellar fractures. It requires investigation how to select appropriate medical condition, treatment with precise effect and feasible materials.
OBJECTIVE: To compare the therapeutic effect of modified tension-band wire and memory alloy patellar holder on patellar fractures to provide evidence for choosing appropriate treatment method in clinic.
METHODS: A total of 230 patients with patellar fracture, treated in First Department of Orthopedics, First Affiliated Hospital of Shihezi University between January 2002 and January 2009 were retrospectively reviewed. Of them, 143 were treated with modified tension-band wire, and 87 with memory alloy patellar holder．The operation time, union of fracture time, incidence of complications, total cost of hospitalization and functional outcome was assessed with Bostman score system were compared.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Al1 the patients were followed up for more than 4 months. There was no statistically significant among the two groups in every index (P > 0.05). But memory alloy patellar holder was more costly compared with modified tension-band wire (P < 0.01). In therapy for comminuted fracture, the operation time and healing time was similar in two groups (P > 0.05), The incidence of complications in memory alloy patellar holder group was significantly lower compared with modified tension-band wire (P < 0.01), and the excellent and good rate of memory alloy patellar holder group was 100%, significantly greater than modified tension-band wire group (P < 0.01). K-wire tension band internal fixation should be the routine method in treating the patellar transverse fracture for the advantage of reliable effect, low cost and easy to spread. Memory alloy patellar holder has the advantage of reliable fixation, less surgical trauma and fewer complications.