Patella partita
| Classification according to ICD-10 | |
|---|---|
| Q74.1 | Congenital malformation of the knee |
| ICD-10 online (WHO version 2019) | |
The patella partita ( Latin : patella = bowl, plate; partiri = to divide) is a disorder of the ossification of the kneecap without any actual disease value.
causes
The kneecap is initially cartilaginous and is formed from several bone cores ( ossification ) that fuse as it grows. If this does not happen, the kneecap appears to be divided into two ( patella bipartita ), three ( patella tripartita ) or more ( patella multipartita ) , which is visible on the x-ray . The surrounding cartilaginous structure is not divided.
The cause of the missing merger is not known, although there is presumably only a delay in the merger.
clinic
As a rule, the change does not cause any symptoms and is discovered as an incidental finding in the X-ray. Boys are affected 9 times more often.
Typically the change occurs on one side and on the upper outer part of the patella.
Occasionally, stress-related complaints, similar to chondropathia patellae, occur .
Diagnosis
The diagnosis is made on an X-ray . The unconnected parts are mostly found in the upper / side edge of the kneecap.
Occasionally, it is difficult to distinguish it from the freshly broken kneecap.
In unclear cases, magnetic resonance imaging allows a reliable diagnosis.
therapy
Treatment is only necessary in rare cases. Occasionally, anti-inflammatory medications can help if the pain is more severe . Unconnected parts of the kneecap only have to be surgically removed in exceptional cases.
Differential diagnosis
A pseudarthrotic unhealed fracture of the kneecap is to be distinguished. The edges of the fracture are also rounded and covered with cortical bone.
literature
- Carl Joachim Wirth: Practice of orthopedics. Georg Thieme Verlag, Stuttgart / New York 2001, ISBN 3-13-125683-4 .
- Joachim Brossmann, Christian Czerny, Jürgen Freyschmidt: Limits of the normal and the beginnings of the pathological in the radiology of the child and adult skeleton. 13th edition. Georg Thieme Verlag, Stuttgart / New York 2001, ISBN 3-13-362214-5 .
- Wolfgang Rüdiger Hepp: Radiology of the femoro-patellar joint. (= Orthopedist's library. Volume 37). Enke-Verlag, Stuttgart 1983, ISBN 3-432-93591-6 .
- F. Hefti: Children's orthopedics in practice . Springer 1998, ISBN 3-540-61480-X .
