Painful bipartite patella in young athletes. The diagnostic value of skyline views taken in squatting position and the results of surgical excision.

Nine patients with painful bipartite patella associated with young athletes were evaluated clinically and radiologically at an average of 60 months (range, 21 to 145 months) after excision of accessory nucleus of the patella. All patients were male and between 14 and 21 years of age when they were operated on. The indications for excision of separated fragments of the patella included: failure of nonoperative treatment for more than 3 months; radiographic evidence of significant irregularities of the articular surface of the separated fragment of the patella; and symptoms severe and prolonged enough to warrant surgery. Skyline views taken with the patient in a squatting position with weight bearing showed a wider separation of the accessory fragment from the main patella than did the nonweight bearing skyline views. This appears to be an important and useful diagnostic feature in a painful bipartite patellae; the authors propose that this radiographic examination should be called a "squatting position test". Histologically, the interface between the accessory and main patella was fibrocartilaginous, and the adjacent bone tissue was clearly demarcated by a dense lamina, indicating that the initial lesion was probably a traction lesion. All patients returned to full sports activity at their previous highest level within 4 to 7 weeks. The excision of accessory bone appears to be a simple and reliable procedure for avoiding prolonged postoperative treatment, reducing the length of incapacitation, and minimizing the danger of permanent stiffness of the joint.