Braided Polyester Suture Fatigue Failure When Treating Transverse Patellar Fracture: A Case Report

The incidence of patellar fractures accounts for almost 1% of all skeletal fractures. In case of a displaced patellar fracture, surgical intervention is often advocated for earlier stability, restoration of knee motion, and shortened morbidity. Among various fixations, the AO modified tension band technique, which incorporates two parallel Kirschner wires with an anterior tension band, is the most widely applied method. In current practice, the stainless steel wire is the material of choice for treatment of these fractures because of its high tensile strength. However, certain concerns about the difficult manipulation of the wire, frequent irritation after implantation, and even later relieving removal prompted investigators to seek alternatives. Some surgeons began using a braided polyester suture as substitute for stainless steel because it evokes minimal tissue reactivity [4] and works as well mechanically as the stainless steel wire. In the literature, failure of non-absorbable suture fixation is seldom reported. In 2001, Gosal et al, reporting their experience using nonmetallic Braided Polyester Suture Fatigue Failure When Treating Transverse Patellar Fracture: A Case Report Cheng-Li Lin 2, , Chih-Wei Chang 2, , Chih-Hang Chang, Chyun-Yu Yang 1 Department of Orthopedics, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan 2 Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan 3 Department of Orthopedics, Show-Chwan Memorial Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan 4 Division of Traumatology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan