title: Biomechanical Assessment of Locked Plating for the Fixation of Patella Fractures.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the mechanical stability of locked plating in comparison with tension-band wiring for the fixation of fractures of the patella.
  
  
  METHODS
  Biomechanical tests were performed on artificial foam patella specimens comparing an angular stable plate and monocortical screws with tension-band wiring. Tests were performed under combined tension and bending until failure simulating physiological loading of the tibia during walking.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Tension-band wiring failed at 66% of the failure load of plating (1052 N, P = 0.002) and had 5 times larger fracture gap displacements (P = 0.002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on the biomechanical advantages, locked plating of the patella may constitute a reasonable alternative in the treatment of patella fractures.
authors: *Department of Traumatology, BG Trauma Center Murnau, Murnau, Germany; †Institute of Biomechanics, BG Trauma Center Murnau, Murnau, Germany; and ‡Institute of Biomechanics, Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, Austria.
authors: Simone
authors: S
authors: Wurm
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Augat
authors: Volker
authors: V
authors: Bühren
mesh_terms: D001860:Bone Plates; D001863:Bone Screws; D001864:Bone Wires; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D010329:Patella / Q000293:injuries* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013718:Tensile Strength