title: The management of the painful bipartite patella: a systematic review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to identify the most effective method for the treatment of the symptomatic bipartite patella.
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic review of the literature was completed, and all studies assessing the management of a bipartite patella were included. Owing to the paucity of randomised controlled trials, a narrative review of 22 studies was completed. A range of treatments were assessed: conservative measures, open and arthroscopic fixation or excision and soft tissue release and excision.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All of the methods provided results ranging from good to excellent, with acceptable complication rates.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is a poorly answered treatment question. No firm guidance can be given as to the most appropriate method of treating the symptomatic bipartite patella. This study suggests that there are a number of effective treatments with acceptable complication rates and it may be that treatments that conserve the patella are more appropriate for larger fragments.
  
  
  METHODS
  IV.
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, BT12 6BA, UK. sammc84@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Samuel E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: McMahon
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics, Tygerberg Hospital, Francie van Zijl Ave, Tygerberg, Cape Town, 7505, South Africa.
authors.forename: Johannes A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: LeRoux
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK.
authors.forename: Toby O
authors.initials: TO
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics, St George's University London, Tooting, London, SW17 0QT, UK.
authors.forename: Caroline B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Hing
mesh_terms: D018771:Arthralgia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D001848:Bone Diseases, Developmental / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D038061:Lower Extremity Deformities, Congenital / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D010329:Patella / Q000002:abnormalities*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Bipartite; Multipartite; Patella