NCT06981039

Comparison of Patella Plating Versus Tension Band Wiring for the Treatment of Unstable Patellar Fractures

The WASP Trial (Wiring Versus Anterior Star Plate): Comparison of Patella Plating Versus Tension Band Wiring for the Treatment of Unstable Patellar Fractures: A Randomized Controlled Trial

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 60 (estimated)
• Sponsor: The University of Hong Kong · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

This study aims to compare the efficacy and safety of patella anatomical locking plate fixation versus tension band wiring in the treatment of patellar fractures.

Detailed description

Patellar fractures are a common injury that can cause significant pain and disability. Conventional treatment options frequently include tension band wiring (TBW) with or without axial K-Wires or through cannulated screws. However, tension band wiring does have its issues, including implant prominence and frequent reoperation rates, especially for comminuted patella fractures. More recently, plate fixation has become increasingly more prevalent in the past decade. Initially, this began with small fragment or mini-fragment plates; which progressed to mesh locking plates and now, anatomical locking patella plates. Biomechanical studies have shown greater loads to failure, less fracture gapping or fracture displacement with locking plate fixation compared to TBW. Its low profile construct and round edges may be more tolerable to patients and less prominent than TBW. Furthermore, another possible advantage of plate fixation is the avoidance of quadricep and patellar tendon insertion scarring, as they do not need to be dissected or passed through for fixation as in TBW. This is the first randomized controlled trial comparing anatomical locking plate fixation and conventional tension band wiring for patella fractures to be performed. This study aims to compare the efficacy and safety of these two methods in the treatment of patellar fractures.

Conditions

• Patella Fracture

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DEVICE	Patella Anatomical Locking Plate	Patients in the patella anatomical locking plate group will undergo internal fixation with an anterior locking plate and screw construct using the 2.7mm variable angle (VA) locking patella plating system (DePuy Synthes, Zuchwil, Switzerland)
DEVICE	Tension Band Wiring	Patients in the tension band wiring group will undergo open anatomical reduction and internal fixation with a tension band wire construct.

Timeline

• Start date: 2024-02-14
• Primary completion: 2026-01-31
• Completion: 2026-07-31
• First posted: 2025-05-20
• Last updated: 2025-05-20

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Hong Kong