RESUMEN
Fractures of the coronoid process typically occur as part of more complex injury patterns, such as terrible triads, trans-olecranon fracture-dislocations, posteromedial rotatory injuries or Monteggia-like lesions. Each pattern is associated with a specific type of coronoid fracture with regard to shape and size and specific soft-tissue lesions. O' Driscoll classification incorporates those associations identifying three major types of fractures: tip, anteromedial facet, and basal fractures. The objective of this study is to review the most common types of complex elbow instability, identify the indications for coronoid fixation and guide the appropriate management. Tip fractures as those seen in terrible triads can conditionally left untreated provided that elbow stability has been restored after radial head fixation and ligaments repair. Anteromedial facet fractures benefit from a buttress plate, while large basilar fractures can be effectively secured with posteroanterior screws. Coronoid reconstruction with a graft should be considered in post-traumatic cases of chronic coronoid deficiency.
RESUMEN
The management of extensor mechanism lesions after total knee replacement is still associated with an unacceptably high complication rate, especially in its chronic setting. In this study, we report on 4 patients with chronic (> 3 months) patellar tendon rupture after knee arthroplasty, who were treated with a novel procedure of staged patella advancement prior to reconstruction with autografts. Initially, a unilateral frame was applied connecting the patella with the tibial shaft. The construct allowed for gradual distal advancement of the patella based on the Ilizarov principles. After achieving the desired patella height, the frame was removed, and the patellar tendon was reconstructed with hamstrings. All four patients experienced a significant improvement in extensor lag by a mean of 38.0°, while Knee society scores increased by a mean of 38.5 units. No substantial loss in active knee flexion was observed. Our findings suggest that our technique yields favorable outcomes in patients with patellar tendon disruption in the setting of a total knee arthroplasty.