Three cases of patella fracture in 1,320 anterior cruciate ligament reconstructions with bone-patellar tendon-bone autograft

Between September 1992 and December 1996 we reviewed three transverse displ aced fractures of the patella occuring in 1,320 ACL reconstructions using b one-patellar tendon-bone autograft. All the patients suffered local injury to the donor knee between 8 and 12 weeks postoperatively. Immediate rigid f ixation using single or double anterior tension band allowed early mobiliza tion and full weight bearing. Between 6 and 9 months after fracture, the sc rews and the wire were removed and the grafts tested. Results of the pivot shift and Lachman test under anesthesia were negative and arthroscopic visu alisation showed the graft to be intact. Postoperative assessment included the Lysholm and Tegner scales, the International Knee Documentation Committ ee Evaluation form (IKDC), KT-1000 arthrometer, and isokinetic dynamometer strength testing. No significant differences in the final outcome were note d between reconstructions complicated by patellar fracture and normal ACL r econstructions.