title: Imaging of patellar fractures.
abstract: Patellar fractures account for approximately 1% of all skeletal fractures and may result from direct, indirect, or combined trauma. Because of the importance of patellar integrity for knee extension and the risk of associated injury to the extensor mechanism, accurate reporting and description of fracture type is paramount for appropriate management. This pictorial essay aims to review the normal anatomy of the patella, the mechanisms of injury and different types of patellar fractures, with a brief introduction to therapeutic management. Teaching Points • Patellar fractures are classified according to their morphology and degree of displacement.• Direct trauma results in stellate fractures.• Indirect trauma results in transverse fractures.• Displacement should raise suspicion for retinacular injury.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Mercy Catholic Medical Center, 1500 Lansdowne Avenue, Darby, 19023, PA, USA. mohamedjarraya@gmail.com.|Department of Radiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA. mohamedjarraya@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8095-0174
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jarraya
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Luis E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Diaz
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: William F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Arndt
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Frank W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Roemer
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guermazi
keywords: Conventional radiograph; Extensor mechanism rupture; Fracture; MRI; Patella