Etiological and epidemiological analysis of patella fractures: evaluation of COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown era effects

Background: Patella fractures are relatively rare, but significant public health burden with consequences ranging from skin problems to extensor mechanism deficiencies and patellofemoral arthrosis due to their significant effects on pain, functionality, and quality of life. It was aimed to present basic etiological, and epidemiological information about patella fractures and to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic and lockdown era period. Methods: All patellar fractures admitted to a stage-1 trauma center between 2016 and 2022 were collected retrospectively. Patient's gender, age, side, fracture classification, trauma mechanism, treatment method, admission day and season, accompanying extremity, and non-musculoskeletal/visceral pathologies were recorded and analyzed. Results: A retrospective evaluation was conducted on 304 patients, with 181 (59.5%) males and 123 (40.5%) females, with an average age of 46±19 years. Most patients were between 30-65 (51.4%) and the most common cause was simple falls (74%). Fractures mostly occurred in the winter (35.2%) and on Sundays (19.7%). 9.9% of the patients were accompanied by extremity traumas and 6.9% by non-musculoskeletal injuries. Regarding the descriptive classification, transverse, distal pole, and proximal pole; and according to the AO/OTA classification, C1 was the most common. Conclusion: The incidence of patella fractures is increasing. Non-surgical treatment is a priority, and the complication rates of surgical treatment are considerable. The study, which presents etiological and epidemiological data of level-1 trauma center patients, is a suitable sample for Türkiye. The study is unique in showing the potential effects of COVID-19 on the patient profile and treatment management of patella fractures.