title: Patellar fracture after replacement of the tibio-femoral joint with the ICLH prosthesis.
abstract: Four cases are reported of spontaneous fracture of the patella after ICLH replacement of the knee for Rheumatoid Arthritis. Three of these occur-red in patellae that had not themselves been replaced; one in a resurfaced patella. The former required no specific treatment but the latter required revision surgery. It is argued that the existence of this complication may represent a contra-indication to patellar replacement in the osteoporotic rheumatoid knee.
mesh_terms: D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005598:Fractures, Spontaneous / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007595:Joint Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000150:complications; D010329:Patella / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D011859:Radiography