Comminuted fracture
General considerations
Comminuted patellar fractures are debilitating and require surgical intervention.
Etiology
Comminuted patellar fractures can result from strenuous exercise in athletic dogs or from direct impact to the patella.
Due to its proximity to the skin surface patellar fractures can be open and require immediate attention.
Clinical signs
Most common clinical signs are:
- Weight bearing lameness of the affected limb
- Skin bruising over the patella
- Pain response to palpation of the stifle joint
- Proximal displacement of the patella is most often palpable
- Lack of tension in the patellar ligament
- Edema over the patella
- Stifle joint effusion
- Crepitus during flexion/extension of the stifle joint
Imaging
High quality craniocaudal and mediolateral radiographs of the stifle joint are acquired.
Small fragments or comminution may be visible on a tangential ("skyline") view of the patella or a CT scan.
