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The management of the painful bipartite patella: a systematic review

  • Knee
  • Published:
Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy Aims and scope

Abstract

Purpose

This study aimed to identify the most effective method for the treatment of the symptomatic bipartite patella.

Methods

A systematic review of the literature was completed, and all studies assessing the management of a bipartite patella were included. Owing to the paucity of randomised controlled trials, a narrative review of 22 studies was completed. A range of treatments were assessed: conservative measures, open and arthroscopic fixation or excision and soft tissue release and excision.

Results

All of the methods provided results ranging from good to excellent, with acceptable complication rates.

Conclusions

This is a poorly answered treatment question. No firm guidance can be given as to the most appropriate method of treating the symptomatic bipartite patella. This study suggests that there are a number of effective treatments with acceptable complication rates and it may be that treatments that conserve the patella are more appropriate for larger fragments.

Level of evidence

IV.

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Conflict of interest

None.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, BT12 6BA, UK

    Samuel E. McMahon

  2. Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics, Tygerberg Hospital, Francie van Zijl Ave, Tygerberg, Cape Town, 7505, South Africa

    Johannes A. LeRoux

  3. Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK

    Toby O. Smith

  4. Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics, St George’s University London, Tooting, London, SW17 0QT, UK

    Caroline B. Hing

Authors
  1. Samuel E. McMahon
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  2. Johannes A. LeRoux
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  3. Toby O. Smith
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  4. Caroline B. Hing
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Samuel E. McMahon.

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McMahon, S.E., LeRoux, J.A., Smith, T.O. et al. The management of the painful bipartite patella: a systematic review. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 24, 2798–2805 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-014-3498-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-014-3498-z

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