Insufficiency fracture of the unresurfaced patella following total knee arthroplasty

Abstract

Atraumatic patellar fractures after Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) are rare in unresurfaced patella. Previous reports are few and have highlighted association of these fractures with rheumatoid arthritis and gout along with interference with patellar blood flow after lateral release and Hoffas' fat pad excision. We report a case of insufficiency fracture of patella in a patient following TKA after post-operative haematoma and arthrofibrosis that was managed conservatively.