Fractures of the kneecap

Kneecap placement in the knee joint - sagittal incision with the right knee

The patella (lat. patella) is the largest sesamoid bone in the human body. Fractures of the patella are intra-articular fractures as they involve the femoropatellar joint.

The mechanism of formation[edit | edit source]

Displaced fracture of the patella

Fractures of the patella are usually caused by a fall on a bent knee and are usually direct fractures. The patella is part of the extensor apparatus of the knee. The main extensor muscle of the knee is the quadriceps (lat. m. quadriceps femoris), which starts at the pelvis and the upper end of the femur and attaches to the tibial tuberosity (tuberositas tibiae).

Division of fractures according to dislocation[edit | edit source]

Non-dislocated
dislocated (by pulling the tendon of the m. rectus femoris)

Division of fractures by fracture line[edit | edit source]

non-dislocated
transverse
fractures of the apex
splinter
vertical
Osteochondral

Links[edit | edit source]

External links[edit | edit source]

Zlomeniny pately - ortopedie

Used literature[edit | edit source]