case_images: PMC5447901_01
case_images: Initial radiograph in a patient with anterior knee pain following fall onto left knee, showing bipartite patella with no bony abnormalities.
case_images: TOORTHJ-11-390_F1.jpg
case_images: PMC5447901_01_TOORTHJ-11-390_F1.jpg
case_images: F1
case_images: Plain radiography in all cases confirmed a bipartite patella with no evidence of obvious other bony pathology (Fig. 1).
case_images: Pre-operative MRI images showing bipartite patella with disruption of the synchondrosis and a fissure in the underlying articular cartilage.
case_images: TOORTHJ-11-390_F2.jpg
case_images: PMC5447901_01_TOORTHJ-11-390_F2.jpg
case_images: F2
case_images: The patients were investigated with MRI scans which revealed a rupture of the synchondrosis and adjacent bone marrow oedema with retropatellar chondral separation (Figs. 2a, b, c).
case_images: Intra-operative photograph showing multiple green needles being used to identify the plane of the synchondrosis.
case_images: TOORTHJ-11-390_F3.jpg
case_images: PMC5447901_01_TOORTHJ-11-390_F3.jpg
case_images: F3
case_images: Multiple green needles were used to identify the plane of the synchondrosis (Fig. 3).
case_images: Intra-operative photograph showing the retinaculum overlying the synchondrosis being divided and opened like a book, to allow curettage and decortication.
case_images: TOORTHJ-11-390_F4.jpg
case_images: PMC5447901_01_TOORTHJ-11-390_F4.jpg
case_images: F4
case_images: The retinaculum overlying the synchondrosis was divided, allowing it to be opened like a book (Fig. 4) and exposing the synchondrosis.
case_images: Intra-operative photograph showing operative fixation using two cortical screws.
case_images: TOORTHJ-11-390_F5.jpg
case_images: PMC5447901_01_TOORTHJ-11-390_F5.jpg
case_images: F5
case_images: Fixation was achieved with fully threaded cortical lag screws (Fig. 5); no bone graft was required.
case_images: Post-operative radiographs taken at 6 weeks.
case_images: TOORTHJ-11-390_F6.jpg
case_images: PMC5447901_01_TOORTHJ-11-390_F6.jpg
case_images: F6
case_images: Clinical and radiological union was achieved at 6 weeks follow-up (Fig. 6).