Patella Fracture Surgery Bayonne and Bloomfield

Patella Fracture

This injury happens when there is a break in the patella. The patella is a large, movable bone at the front of the knee.

The patella is part of the knee joint. It is formed between the tendons that connect the thigh bone (femur) to the leg bone (tibia). It protects the front of the knee joint and acts as a point of support, providing increased power to the thigh muscles, which extend the knee. The inner portion of the patella does come in contact with the thigh bone part of the knee joint.

Some common causes of this injury include:

• • Sharp blow to the knee (eg, during sports, a fall, or a car accident)
  • Excessive stress on the knee (eg, during weight lifting, stair climbing, or overexercising a healing knee)

Patients with nondisplaced or minimally displaced fractures who can perform a straight leg raise can usually be treated without surgery. A knee immobilizer can be used for treatment of these types of patellar fractures.

When surgery is necessary the fractured ends of bone are realigned and held in place with some combination of pins, screws and wires. After surgery, Dr. Augustin will have you keep your knee straight for the initial healing and will have you start therapy within a week.