Efficacy and compliance comparison of internal fixation and external fixation for treating patellar fracture

Objective To analyze the efficacy and compliance of internal fixation and external fixation in the treatment of patellar fracture and to verify the clinical advantage of external fixation for patellar fracture. Methods A total of 128 cases of patellar fracture who received operation from Sep. 2011 to Sep. 2012 were randomly divided into 2 groups( 64 cases per group). Patients who received external fixation with patellar device were taken as observation group,and patients who received internal fixation with Kirschner wire were taken as control group. Fracture healing,complications,joint function and satisfaction rates were compared and statistically analyzed. Results Good fracture healing was observed in 62 cases in the observation group,and 58 cases in the control group. The excellent and good rate of fracture healing was 96. 9% in the observation group,while 90. 6% in the control group,with significant difference( P 0. 05); the infection rate was lower and joint function was better in the observation group than the control group,with significant difference( P 0. 05); the satisfaction rate of observation group was also higher in the observation group( 98. 4%),which also has significant difference( P 0. 05). Conclusion The patellar external fixation in the treatment of patella fractures can get better efficacy and compliance compared with Kirschner wire internal fixation,especially for patients with patellar comminuted fracture. Patellar external fixation is worth widely applying in clinical practice.