Acta Orthop Belg
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Two hundred three fractures of the patella in 200 patients were treated by tension band wire fixation using one or several wire loops and 2 longitudinally directed Kirschner wires. They were reviewed with a mean follow-up of six years (range 1 to 10 years). There were 143 men and 57 women. ⋯ The complications were sepsis in 11 cases (5%), loosening of material in 20 cases (10%), malunion in 9 cases (4.5%), nonunion in 8 cases (4%), femoropatellar osteoarthritis in 17 cases (8.5%). The results were excellent or good in 169 cases (83%), and fair or poor in 34 cases (17%). The authors recommend this operative technique which allows good anatomic reconstruction of the patella, early mobilisation of the knee and early weight-bearing with a high rate of consolidation.
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Over a 7 years period (from September 1989 to April 1996), 25 patients have been treated for proximal humeral fractures using Kapandji's method of internal fixation. Twenty-one were available for evaluation. The mean follow-up was 3 years 9 months. ⋯ Complications were frequent, the most common being pin migration, but the functional results following Constant scores are very good. The technique is easy, quick, non- invasive and inexpensive. The approach is direct and avoids opening the elbow joint.