Abstract
Open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of patellar fractures generally leads
to good results; however, the potential for surgical complications exists. Nonunion,
infection, posttraumatic arthritis, arthrofibrosis, symptomatic hardware, and extensor
mechanism insufficiency have all been described following patellar ORIF, and the risk
of their occurrence may be augmented by patient-, injury-, and treatment-related factors.
When complications arise, advanced reconstructive techniques are often required for
successful management. This review will report the incidence of the aforementioned
complications, highlight risk factors contributing to their frequency, discuss treatment
options, and present the reported results of selected treatment strategies from available
literature.
Keywords
patellar fracture - patellar nonunion - hardware pain - complications
