The present study aimed to map the location and frequency of fracture lines on the coronal articular and sagittal planes in multifragmentary patellar fractures. 66 multifragmentary patellar fractures were digitally reconstructed using the 3D CT mapping technique. The coronal articular surface and midsagittal fracture maps were produced by superimposing each case over a single template. Each fracture line was classified based on the initial displacement and orientation. We evaluated the frequency and direction of the fracture line, coronal split fragment area, and satellite and inferior pole fragment presence. Coronal articular surface fracture mapping identified primary horizontal fracture lines between the middle and inferior one-third of the articular surface in 63 patients (95.4%). Secondary horizontal fracture lines running on the inferior border of the articular facet were confirmed (83.3%). Secondary vertical fracture lines creating satellite fragments were mostly located on the periphery of the bilateral facet. Midsagittal fracture mapping of primary and secondary horizontal fracture lines with the main coronal fracture line revealed a predominantly X-shaped fracture map. The consequent coronal split fragment and inferior pole fracture were combined in most cases. In conclusion, the multifragmentary patellar fracture has a distinct pattern which makes coronal split, inferior pole, or satellite fragments.
Background
Iliac crest is the most preferred autogenous bone graft harvesting donor site while it has sorts of complications like prolonged pain, hematoma, and fracture. Harvesting cancellous bone from proximal tibia is also increasingly being used because of lower complications and less donor site pain. However, there are lack of studies to compare these two donor sites in detail. Thus, we proposed to investigate the available amount of autogenous bone graft from the proximal tibia.
Methods
Fifty-one patients who underwent simultaneous bone graft harvest from the PT and the AIC to fill up the given critical sized bone defects were enrolled in this study. We prospectively collected data including the weight of the harvested bone, donor site pain using the visual analog scale (VAS) score, and complications between the two sites.
Results
The mean weight of cancellous bone harvested from the PT was greater than AIC (33.2g vs. 27.4g, p = 0.001). The mean VAS score was significantly lesser in the PT up to 60 days after harvesting (p < 0.001). There was persistent pain up to 90 days in four PT patients and in seven AIC patients. The major complication was reported only in AIC patients (11.8%).
Conclusions
Harvesting cancellous bone from the PT is an acceptable alternative to the AIC for autogenous bone grafting owing to availability of more weighted graft bone and less donor site pain.
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