Treatment of comminuted patellar fracture with the nitinol patellar concentrator.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical effect of the nitinol (NiTi)-patellar concentrator (NT-PC) for the treatment of comminuted patellar fractures.

Methods: A total of 32 patients with acute comminuted patellar fracture accepted open reduction and internal fixation with the NT-PC, and the curative effects were evaluated using the Böstman clinical grading scale.

Results: All fractures were anatomically reduced by surgery and all cases were followed-up for six to 18 months. The mean score of patients according to the Böstman clinical grading scale was 25.6, with 29 of 32 (90.7%) patients achieving excellent or good results. Two patients had traumatic arthritis, one had slippage of the NT-PC, and all patients received pharmacotherapy.

Conclusions: The application of the NT-PC is a satisfactory approach to the treatment of comminuted patellar fractures.