Management of double-layered patellae by compression screw fixation

Tripartite patella is a form of double-layered patella in which the anterio r layer is bipartite. It was first described by Buttner in 1925 (1). Mon re cently, an association with multiple epiphyseal dysplasia has been describe d (2,3). In this article, we describe a case of symptomatic tripartite pate lla in a 13-year-old child who was subsequently found to have features of m ultiple epiphyseal dysplasia. Her patellae had an abnormal excursion with a click and a Visible jump in the longitudinal line of movement, but no late ral instability. We present a surgical solution not previously described by fusion of the two main components and report an excellent result.