Patella fracture: review of the literature and five case presentations.

Patella fractures comprise one percent of all fractures treated in the hospital. They are classified as: 1) transverse, 2) pole, 3) comminuted, and 4) vertical or longitudinal. The principal cause of such fractures is the direct force involved in a fall, an industrial accident, or a motor vehicle accident. Patients who have experienced such fractures are mostly middle-aged and actively employed. In 50 to 66 percent of the cases, surgical treatment is not required. Physical therapy treatment for patella fractures in the medical literature is reviewed. Case studies of five patients ranging in age from 57 to 71 are presented. In these cases the fracture was due to a fall. Two of the five patients had been treated surgically. At the time of discharge from physical therapy, there were persisting problems. These included: knee pain, difficulty with stair climbing, need for assistive devices on uneven surfaces, and weakness of quadriceps and/or hamstrings muscles. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 1991;13(4):177-183.