Bipartite patella

Changed by Mohammad Taghi Niknejad, 29 Nov 2020

Updates to Article Attributes

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A bipartite patella (two-part patella) is a patella with an unfused accessory ossification centre at the superolateral aspect.

Epidemiology

The superolateral accessory ossification centre of the patella is usually present by 12 years of age and may persist into adult life. Prevalence of a bipartite patella occurs in approximately 2% of the population. It occurs bilaterally in about 43% of cases. It is 9x more common in males than in females 2.

Clinical presentation

A bipartite patella is usually discovered incidentally in asymptomatic individuals. Only 2% of patients with bipartite patella experience symptoms. It may cause anterior knee pain, especially after trauma, sports injury, or overuse.

Classification

One method of classification according to H Saupe is as:

  • type I: inferior pole ~1%
  • type II: lateral margin ~20-25%
  • type III: superolateral portion ~75% 

Radiographic features

Plain radiograph

A weight-bearing skyline view may demonstrate separation of the accessory fragment, which may indicate a symptomatic bipartite patella 4

MRI

Bone marrow oedema adjacent to the accessory fragment may indicate a symptomatic bipartite patella 4.

Treatment and prognosis

In the majority of cases, symptomatic bipartite patella improves without surgery. Surgical excision of the small fragment is recommended if conservative management fails and has been reported to give good results 3.

Differential diagnosis

  • patellar fracture: the superolateral accessory ossification centre is characteristic of a bipartite patella. With a patellar fracture, the volume of the fractured components is equivalent to that of a normal patella.
  • multipartite patella: the volume of the true patella plus that of the smaller ossification centres is greater than that expected of a normal patella. 
  • -<p>A <strong>bipartite patella</strong> (two-part patella) is a patella with an unfused accessory ossification centre at the superolateral aspect.</p><h4>Epidemiology</h4><p>The superolateral accessory ossification centre of the patella is usually present by 12 years of age and may persist into adult life. Prevalence of a bipartite patella occurs in approximately 2% of the population. It occurs bilaterally in about 43% of cases. It is 9x more common in males than in females <sup>2</sup>.</p><h4>Clinical presentation</h4><p>A bipartite patella is usually discovered incidentally in asymptomatic individuals. Only 2% of patients with bipartite patella experience symptoms. It may cause <a title="Anterior knee pain" href="/articles/anterior-knee-pain">anterior knee pain</a>, especially after trauma, sports injury, or overuse.</p><h4>Classification</h4><p>One method of classification according to H Saupe is as:</p><ul>
  • +<p>A <strong>bipartite patella</strong> (two-part patella) is a patella with an unfused accessory ossification centre at the superolateral aspect.</p><h4>Epidemiology</h4><p>The superolateral accessory ossification centre of the patella is usually present by 12 years of age and may persist into adult life. Prevalence of a bipartite patella occurs in approximately 2% of the population. It occurs bilaterally in about 43% of cases. It is 9x more common in males than in females <sup>2</sup>.</p><h4>Clinical presentation</h4><p>A bipartite patella is usually discovered incidentally in asymptomatic individuals. Only 2% of patients with bipartite patella experience symptoms. It may cause <a href="/articles/anterior-knee-pain">anterior knee pain</a>, especially after trauma, sports injury, or overuse.</p><h4>Classification</h4><p>One method of classification according to H Saupe is as:</p><ul>
  • -</ul><h4>Radiographic features</h4><h5>Plain radiograph</h5><p>A weight-bearing <a title="Skyline view" href="/articles/knee-skyline-laurin-view">skyline view</a> may demonstrate separation of the accessory fragment, which may indicate a symptomatic bipartite patella <sup>4</sup>. </p><h5>MRI</h5><p>Bone marrow oedema adjacent to the accessory fragment may indicate a symptomatic bipartite patella <sup>4</sup>.</p><h4>Treatment and prognosis</h4><p>In the majority of cases, symptomatic bipartite patella improves without surgery. Surgical excision of the small fragment is recommended if conservative management fails and has been reported to give good results <sup>3</sup>.</p><h4>Differential diagnosis</h4><ul>
  • +</ul><h4>Radiographic features</h4><h5>Plain radiograph</h5><p>A weight-bearing <a href="/articles/knee-skyline-laurin-view">skyline view</a> may demonstrate separation of the accessory fragment, which may indicate a symptomatic bipartite patella <sup>4</sup>. </p><h5>MRI</h5><p>Bone marrow oedema adjacent to the accessory fragment may indicate a symptomatic bipartite patella <sup>4</sup>.</p><h4>Treatment and prognosis</h4><p>In the majority of cases, symptomatic bipartite patella improves without surgery. Surgical excision of the small fragment is recommended if conservative management fails and has been reported to give good results <sup>3</sup>.</p><h4>Differential diagnosis</h4><ul>
Images Changes:

Image 12 X-ray (Frontal) ( create )

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