Publication Type	Academic Article
Authors	Lazaro L, Wellman D, Klinger C, Dyke J, Pardee N, Sculco P, Berkes M, Helfet D, Lorich D
Journal	J Bone Joint Surg Am
Volume	95
Issue	19
Pagination	e1401-7
Date Published	10/02/2013
ISSN	1535-1386
Keywords	Fractures, Bone, Patella
Abstract	BACKGROUND: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the anatomy and contribution of the patellar vascular supply and to quantify the effect of a transverse fracture on patellar perfusion. METHODS: In twenty matched pairs of fresh-frozen cadaveric knees, the superficial femoral artery, anterior tibialis artery, and posterior tibialis artery were cannulated. One side of each matched pair was randomly selected to undergo one of two osteotomies: (1) midpatellar osteotomy or (2) distal-pole osteotomy. For volumetric analysis, comparisons were performed between contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance images and precontrast magnetic resonance images as well as between osteotomized patellar bone fragments and the corresponding intact areas on the control side. We then injected a urethane polymer compound and dissected all specimens to examine extraosseous vascularity. RESULTS: Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated that the largest arterial contribution to the patella entered at the inferior pole in 100% of the specimens; in 80% of these specimens, the artery entered inferomedially. It also revealed an overall decrease in contrast enhancement in both transverse osteotomy groups, with an average reduction in enhancement in the proximal fragment of 36%. CONCLUSIONS: If possible, surgical interventions about the knee should be carefully planned to preserve the peripatellar ring (the source of the entire patellar blood supply), especially the inferior patellar network. Distal-pole patellectomy should be avoided to retain vascularized bone at the reduced fracture site.
DOI	10.2106/JBJS.L.00401
PubMed ID	24088975