[Midterm results after treatment of injuries of the distal extensor mechanism with the MPT-fixateur. A critical analysis].

Between 1994 and 2000 at our institution 37 patients (8 women, 29 men) with fractures of the lower patellar pole and a proximal avulsion fracture of the patellar ligament underwent a primary surgical repair and patello-tibial fixateur for external protection. All patients underwent immediately after the reconstruction a functional rehabilitation program without any movement limitation and under early full weight bearing. Postoperative follow-up after an average of 58.5 months (range 14 to 102 months) was possible in 26 patients. Physical examination, roentgenographic evaluation and isokinetic testing were performed. The clinical evaluation was carried out according to the strict criteria of the IKDC-score. The radiological measurement of the patella height was carried out using the index of Blackburne & Peel; the femoropatellar changings were registered according to the score of Sperner. The clinical evaluation showed in 8 patients a normal, in 10 patients a nearly normal, in 7 patients an abnormal and only in 1 patient a severe abnormal result. The average muscle strength deficit in comparison to the contralateral knee joint was between 10 % and 20 %. All patients showed clinically and radiologically a sufficient distal knee extensor mechanism. The patella height ratio was in the average 0.82 on the injured and 0.79 on the non-injured side. In 17 cases we didn't saw any femoropatellar arthrosis. Eight patients showed a moderate femoropatellar arthrosis. There was no case with severe femoropatellar arthrosis. By good follow-up results in general we could demonstrate the value of the MPT-fixateur as a dynamic protection method after reconstructive operations of the distal knee extensor mechanism.