Patella Fracture
OPA treats a wide variety of knee conditions and offers comprehensive treatment options — including many non-surgical solutions.
What is a Patella Fracture?
The patella or kneecap is a small bone that protects the knee and connects the large thigh muscles to the tibia or shin bone. A patella fracture is an impact injury that breaks the patella into two or more parts.
Common Causes:
Different types of patella fractures are:
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- Stable nondisplaced fracture. Fractured bone pieces remain very close.
- Displaced fracture. Fractured bone pieces separate and do not line up properly.
- Comminuted fracture. The patella is shattered into three or more pieces.
- Open fracture. The patella breaks and sticks out of the skin.
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- Pain
- Swelling
- Bruising
- Difficulty straightening the knee
- Difficulty standing or walking
When you arrive for your initial consultation, Orthopedic Physicians Alaska (OPA) team of knee specialists will evaluate your areas of concern, discuss your symptoms, and develop a customized and comprehensive treatment plan tailored to your unique needs. This evaluation is a necessary part of diagnosing your condition and providing the best possible care.
Once an official diagnosis is made, a customized treatment plan is prescribed. Treatment plans decrease symptoms as quickly as possible.
Common Treatments:
Nonsurgical treatment options treat most stable nondisplaced fractures.
NSAIDs
Orthotics
Cushion the knee while standing, walking, and running.
Physical Therapy
Surgery may be recommended to treat some patella fractures. During an open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) procedure, an OPA specialist reduces the fracture and fixates it with screws and flexible wires. A brace is worn after surgery while the bone heals.
Our Knee Team
The OPA team includes Alaska’s leading knee specialists and offers some of the latest, most advanced treatment procedures.
OPA treats various shoulder conditions and offers comprehensive treatment options — including many non-surgical solutions.
All treatments work to restore pain-free knee function that allows patients to lead active, fulfilling lives, be it walking pain-free or getting back into athletic action.
Questions?
The OPA team includes Alaska’s leading specialists and offers some of the latest, most advanced treatment procedures available today.
OPA treats a wide variety of conditions and offers comprehensive treatment options — including many non-surgical solutions, minimally invasive arthroscopies (repairs) and total joint replacement.