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Bipartite Patella (Updated November 2005)


Introduction


A bipartite patella is a congenital condition in which: the patella develops from 2 ossifications center and that results in a main and accessory bone. The main and accessory bones are connected by fibrocartilaginous tissue. The incidence ranges from 0.2 to 6 percent. Forty three percent of cases are bilateral. Males are more commonly involved than females with a ratio of 8:1. The superolateral pole of the patella is the most common location of the accessory bone (75%). Bipartite patella is usually an incidental radiological finding. Symptoms usually appear after acute trauma or repetitive microtrauma.