Understanding Patellar Fractures in Children: Diagnosis and Treatment Approaches

Key Findings on Pediatric Patellar Fractures

  • Incidence: These fractures are uncommon but can occur due to direct trauma or excessive quadriceps contraction.
  • Diagnosis Challenges: Congenital anomalies may mimic fractures, making diagnosis difficult.
  • Imaging Techniques: X-rays are the first line of diagnosis, but MRI scans are crucial in uncertain cases.
  • Treatment Options: Conservative management includes immobilization, while surgical intervention involves internal fixation with tension band wiring.

Clinical Case: A Rare Patellar Fracture in a Seven-Year-Old Girl A seven-year-old girl sustained a patellar fracture after colliding with a concrete pillar. Upon examination, she exhibited:

  • Moderate swelling and tenderness over the right patella
  • Inability to actively extend the knee
  • X-ray confirmation of the fracture

She was treated with open reduction and internal fixation using K-wires and a tension band. Post-operative care included knee immobilization for three weeks, followed by physiotherapy for mobilization. At six months, she had regained full mobility without complications.

Diagnostic and Treatment Considerations

  • Imaging Importance: MRI scans help detect subtle fractures often missed on X-rays.
  • Surgical vs. Non-Surgical Management: Small avulsion fractures may heal with immobilization, but displaced fractures require internal fixation.
  • Rehabilitation: Early physiotherapy ensures proper knee function recovery.

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