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Patella FractureNCT07248982

High-Strength Suture vs. Traditional Tension Band for Patellar Fractures

An observational study of Patella Fracture, run by Fuzhou University Affiliated Provincial Hospital at 1 site in China.

Recruiting

Looking for participants now. Contact the study team or a site below to ask about taking part.

Sites and contacts
Official record
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Trial summary

This prospective cohort study aims to evaluate the clinical efficacy of high-strength suture modified tension band fixation in treating patellar fractures and compare it with traditional screw-cable tension band fixation. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 55 years
Conditions the study is for
Patella Fracture
What is being tested?
High-Strength Suture Modified Tension Band Fixation and Screw-Cable Tension Band Fixation
Type of treatment
Surgery or procedure
How many people
50 participants
Where
1 siteChina
Study dates
1 Feb 2024to 30 Jun 2026
Phase
Observational
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 55 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult

Study population: Adult patients with patellar fractures seeking surgical treatment at Fuzhou University Affiliated Provincial Hospital, meeting inclusion criteria, and grouped based on surgical technique received.

Who may be able to join

  • 1.Age 18-55 years. 2.Radiographically confirmed patellar fracture (AO/OTA 34-C1 or 34-C2). 3.First-time patellar fracture surgery. 4.Time from injury to surgery ≤ 2 weeks. 5.Able to comply with follow-up and provide written informed consent. 6.Normal pre-injury knee function. 7.Able to tolerate surgery and agree to surgical treatment. 8.Intact cognitive function.

Who cannot join

  • 1.Age <18 or >55 years. 2.Pathological fractures. 3.Prior patellar surgery or severe underlying patellofemoral disease. 4.Time from injury to surgery >2 weeks. 5.Concurrent active infection or severe medical conditions. 6.Severe neuropsychiatric disorders affecting follow-up compliance. 7.Postmenopausal women. 8.Inability to tolerate surgery or refusal of surgery. 9.Comorbid patellar dysplasia, rheumatoid arthritis, or other patellofemoral diseases.
  • 10.Comorbid systemic or local infection at surgical site. 11.Comorbid severe lower limb or systemic injuries. 12.Pre-injury cognitive impairment, mental disorder, or independent walking disability.
  • 13.Other conditions unsuitable for enrollment.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

Anning Liu, M.Med. (candidate) contact

+8615259370989

jomt852@163.com

China1 site, 1 recruiting
  • Fuzhou University Affiliated Provincial Hospital

    Fuzhou, Fujian, 350001

    Wei Xu, Dr, +8613959116868, drxuwei@sina.com

    Recruiting

Other trials in China

About this study

Official title: Prospective Cohort Study of High-Strength Suture Modified Tension Band Technique for the Treatment of Patellar Fractures

This prospective cohort study aims to evaluate the clinical efficacy of high-strength suture modified tension band fixation in treating patellar fractures and compare it with traditional screw-cable tension band fixation. Adult patients (18-55 years) with AO/OTA 34-C1 or 34-C2 patellar fractures will be enrolled and followed for 12 months. Primary outcomes include Lysholm knee function score, knee range of motion (ROM), and visual analog scale (VAS) pain score at 12 months post-surgery. Secondary outcomes include fracture healing time, radiographic alignment quality, complication rates, reoperation rates, implant removal rates, SF-36 health survey scores, and patient satisfaction. No additional biological samples will be collected; data will focus on clinical, radiographic, and follow-up information.

Read the detailed description

Patellar fractures account for approximately 1% of all fractures and are common in knee injuries. Traditional tension band fixation is widely used but associated with issues such as hardware migration, soft tissue irritation, and postoperative pain, impacting rehabilitation and quality of life. High-strength sutures offer improved biomechanical properties, flexibility, and reduced soft tissue damage. This study observes the clinical efficacy of high-strength suture modified tension band fixation compared to traditional methods through a prospective cohort design.

Patients admitted to Fuzhou University Affiliated Provincial Hospital from February 2024 to February 2026 with patellar fractures undergoing surgery will be divided into two groups based on surgical method: Suture Fixation (SF) group and Screw-Cable Tension Band (SCTB) group. Follow-up will occur for 12 months, assessing outcomes such as postoperative VAS pain scores, Lysholm knee scores, ROM, SF-36 health surveys, surgical time, intraoperative blood loss, hospital stay, and complications (e.g., infection, fixation failure, nonunion).

General data collected includes demographics (age, gender, height, weight, BMI), comorbidities (e.g., diabetes, hypertension, smoking), ASA classification, fracture details (side, type, displacement, mechanism, time from injury), and perioperative complications. Imaging assessments include fracture reduction quality (good, satisfactory, poor) via X-ray, healing time (weeks until fracture line blurs/disappears), and patellar height via Insall-Salvati index. Muscle strength (quadriceps via MMT, 0-5 grades) and patient satisfaction (1-5 scale) will also be evaluated.

Adverse events (AEs) and serious adverse events (SAEs) will be recorded, reported to the ethics committee, and managed promptly. Statistical analysis will use IBM SPSS Statistics 27.0, with t-tests, Mann-Whitney U tests, chi-square/Fisher's exact tests, Kaplan-Meier curves, and regressions as appropriate. Intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis will be primary, with multiple imputation for missing data.

The study is feasible given the hospital's patient volume and the principal investigator's experience. Ethical principles follow the Helsinki Declaration, with informed consent and privacy protection. Results will be published in academic journals and presented at conferences.

Being tested
High-Strength Suture Modified Tension Band Fixation, Screw-Cable Tension Band Fixation
Keywords
Patellar Fracture, Tension Band Fixation, High-Strength Suture, Knee Function, Lysholm Score, VAS Pain Score, Prospective Cohort
Medical subject headings
Patella Fracture

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • High-Strength Suture Modified Tension Band FixationProcedure or surgery

    Also called Suture Fixation (SF)

    Use of high-strength sutures for modified tension band fixation in patellar fracture surgery.

  • Screw-Cable Tension Band FixationProcedure or surgery

    Use of screws and cables for traditional modified tension band fixation in patellar fracture surgery.

Study groups in NCT07248982
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Suture Fixation (SF) GroupPatients receiving high-strength suture modified tension band fixation for patellar fracture.
Receives: Procedure: High-Strength Suture Modified Tension Band Fixation
Screw-Cable Tension Band (SCTB) GroupPatients receiving traditional screw-cable tension band fixation for patellar fracture.
Receives: Procedure: Screw-Cable Tension Band Fixation

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Lysholm Knee Score at 12 Months Postoperatively

    Lysholm knee scoring scale (0-100 points; 95-100 = excellent, 84-94 = good, 65-83 = fair, <65 = poor; higher scores indicate better knee function). Assessed at baseline (pre-injury recalled), 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months postoperatively.

    Measured: 12 months postoperatively

  2. Knee Range of Motion at 12 Months Postoperatively

    Active knee flexion and extension range of motion measured in degrees with a goniometer (higher values indicate better function). Assessed at 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months postoperatively.

    Measured: 12 months postoperatively

  3. Visual Analog Scale (VAS) Pain Score at 12 Months Postoperatively

    Visual Analog Scale for pain (0-10 points; 0 = no pain, 10 = worst imaginable pain; higher scores indicate more severe pain). Assessed preoperatively and at 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months postoperatively.

    Measured: 12 months postoperatively

Secondary outcomes (11)
  1. Fracture Healing Time

    Time in weeks from surgery until radiographic evidence of fracture line blurring or disappearance on X-ray/CT.

    Measured: Assessed at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months postoperatively or until healing confirmed

  2. Radiographic Alignment Quality

    Postoperative fracture reduction quality graded as good, satisfactory, or poor based on X-ray.

    Measured: Immediately postoperatively and at 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months postoperatively

  3. Complication Rate

    Incidence of any postoperative complications (e.g., infection, fixation failure, nonunion, knee stiffness, deep vein thrombosis).

    Measured: From surgery to 12 months postoperatively

  4. Reoperation Rate

    Percentage of patients requiring any additional surgery related to the index fracture.

    Measured: From surgery to 12 months postoperatively

  5. Implant Removal Rate

    Percentage of patients requiring removal of surgical implants.

    Measured: From surgery to 12 months postoperatively

  6. SF-36 (36-Item Short Form Health Survey) Score

    36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) questionnaire assessing health-related quality of life. The SF-36 includes eight domains (physical functioning, role-physical, bodily pain, general health, vitality, social functioning, role-emotional, mental health); scores for each domain range from 0-100, with higher scores indicating better health status. The Physical Component Summary (PCS) and Mental Component Summary (MCS) will also be calculated and reported. Assessed at 12 months postoperatively.

    Measured: 12 months postoperatively

  7. Surgical Time

    Duration of the surgical procedure recorded in minutes from skin incision to closure.

    Measured: Day of surgery

  8. Intraoperative Blood Loss

    Estimated volume of blood loss during surgery recorded in milliliters.

    Measured: Day of surgery

  9. Hospital Stay Duration

    Number of days from the date of surgery to the date of hospital discharge.

    Measured: From day of surgery to discharge

  10. Quadriceps Muscle Strength (Manual Muscle Testing)

    Quadriceps strength graded 0-5 using Manual Muscle Testing (MMT; 0 = no contraction, 5 = normal strength), compared with the contralateral side.

    Measured: Assessed at 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months postoperatively

  11. Patellar Height (Insall-Salvati Index)

    Ratio of patellar tendon length to patellar length measured on lateral knee radiographs (normal range 0.8-1.2).

    Measured: Assessed at 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months postoperatively

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted25 Nov 2025
  2. Study start1 Feb 2024
  3. Primary completion28 Feb 2026 (estimated)
  4. Study completion30 Jun 2026 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Observational
Observational model
Cohort
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrolment
50 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT07248982
Sponsor's protocol ID
K2025-10-005
Status last verified
Nov 2025
First submitted
17 Nov 2025
Last updated
25 Nov 2025
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No: Individual participant data will not be shared. Only aggregated study results and summary statistics will be made available through publications and conference presentations.

Publications

  • Adjal J, Haugaard A, Vesterby L, Ibrahim HM, Sert K, Thomsen MG, Tengberg PT, Ban I, Ohrt-Nissen S. Suture tension band fixation vs. metallic tension band wiring for patella fractures - A biomechanical study on 19 human cadaveric patellae. Injury. 2022 Aug;53(8):2749-2753. doi: 10.1016/j.injury.2022.05.015. Epub 2022 May 26.

    PubMed 35701245
  • Hughes SC, Stott PM, Hearnden AJ, Ripley LG. A new and effective tension-band braided polyester suture technique for transverse patellar fracture fixation. Injury. 2007 Feb;38(2):212-22. doi: 10.1016/j.injury.2006.07.013. Epub 2006 Nov 13.

    PubMed 17098238
  • Carpenter JE, Kasman RA, Patel N, Lee ML, Goldstein SA. Biomechanical evaluation of current patella fracture fixation techniques. J Orthop Trauma. 1997 Jul;11(5):351-6. doi: 10.1097/00005131-199707000-00009.

    PubMed 9294799
  • LeBrun CT, Langford JR, Sagi HC. Functional outcomes after operatively treated patella fractures. J Orthop Trauma. 2012 Jul;26(7):422-6. doi: 10.1097/BOT.0b013e318228c1a1.

    PubMed 22183197
  • Sayum Filho J, Lenza M, Tamaoki MJ, Matsunaga FT, Belloti JC. Interventions for treating fractures of the patella in adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2021 Feb 24;2(2):CD009651. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD009651.pub3.

    PubMed 33625743
  • Huang L, Li X, Ye L, Li S. Closed Reduction and High-Strength Sutures for Transverse Patella Fractures: A Retrospective Analysis. Indian J Orthop. 2023 Feb 27;57(4):571-576. doi: 10.1007/s43465-023-00843-4. eCollection 2023 Apr.

    PubMed 37006729
  • Giuseppe R, Michele R, Luca F, Michele G, Giuseppe G, Valentina M, Giustra F, Bosco F, Camarda L. Nonmetallic tension band fixation is a viable and low-complication surgical technique in patellar fractures: a five-year retrospective study. Eur J Orthop Surg Traumatol. 2024 May;34(4):2065-2071. doi: 10.1007/s00590-024-03887-w. Epub 2024 Mar 26.

    PubMed 38530504
  • Xiang F, Xiao Y, Li D, Ma W, Chen Y, Yang Y. Tension band high-strength suture combined with absorbable cannulated screws for treating transverse patellar fractures: finite element analysis and clinical study. Front Bioeng Biotechnol. 2024 Mar 7;12:1340482. doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2024.1340482. eCollection 2024.

    PubMed 38515618

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

An observational study of Patella Fracture, run by Fuzhou University Affiliated Provincial Hospital at 1 site in China.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 3 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 25 Nov 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in China. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

Contact Anning Liu, M.Med. (candidate) (+8615259370989, jomt852@163.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Lysholm Knee Score at 12 Months Postoperatively (time frame: 12 months postoperatively). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07248982, which also lists 8 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 25 Nov 2025.

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