title: Mid-term (2-8 years) follow-up of open reduction and internal fixation of patella fractures: does the surgical technique influence the outcome?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of the study was to evaluate the clinical and radiological results of internal fixation of patella fractures, comparing tension band wiring techniques with proximal only and proximally and distally bend Kirschner wires (K-wires).
  
  
  METHODS
  Over a period of 6 years, 60 patients met the criteria to be included in this study of which 40 were available for mid-term (2-8 years) clinical and radiological follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 60, 9 failures of fixation occurred, 3 due to migration of the K-wires and 6 because of insufficient tensioning of the tension band. Failure due to migration, only occurred in the group with the proximally bend only K-wire technique.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our recommendation is to distally bend the K-wires as well as proximally to prevent migration of K-wires.
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedic Trauma, Flinders Medical Centre, Flinders Drive, Bedford Park, SA 5042, Australia.
authors.forename: Karin M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Eggink
authors.forename: Ruurd L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Jaarsma
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001864:Bone Wires; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000379:methods*; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D010329:Patella / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D011859:Radiography; D017211:Treatment Failure; D016896:Treatment Outcome