This research article was originally published in Journal of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (JAAOS) in October 2024.
The study evaluates whether adding suture augmentation to a dorsal patellar locking plate improves fixation strength in a transverse patella fracture model. 
Suture augmentation produced higher stiffness, less deformation and greater load to failure during testing, suggesting a biomechanical advantage even though the differences were not statistically significant. Both constructs, plate alone and plate with sutures, tolerated very high loads, reflecting the inherent strength of dorsal plate fixation.
Its authors note that suture augmentation led to less fracture displacement at the final load, indicating a meaningful improvement in construct behavior under stress. While trends favored suture augmentation, the study reinforces that dorsal locking plates alone already provide robust fixation.
The findings support further investigation into how integrated soft‑tissue tensioning may enhance patellar fracture stability, especially in constructs similar to modern plate‑and‑suture systems.
Click here to read the article online or download the full PDF here.
