Which two conditions can mimic a fracture of the patella?

The conditions that can mimic a fracture of the patella include bipartite and tripartite patella. This is because both of these anatomical variations involve the presence of separate ossification centers in the patella, which can appear similar to fractures on imaging studies.

A bipartite patella is characterized by the presence of two segments of the patella that have been formed from separate ossification centers. Similarly, in a tripartite patella, there are three segments. On radiographs, these variations can be misinterpreted as fractures due to their appearance, particularly if the radiologist or clinician is not aware of the patient’s anatomic variant.

In contrast, the other conditions listed, such as comminuted and greenstick fractures, are more easily identifiable as fractures based on their characteristics and patterns seen on imaging. Transverse and stellate fractures as well as stress and spiral fractures have distinct patterns that would indicate a true fracture rather than an anatomical variant. Thus, the significance of recognizing a bipartite or tripartite patella is crucial to avoid misdiagnosis and ensure appropriate management.