[Fatigue fracture of the patella in cerebral palsy (author's transl)].

Amongst approximately 1 500 spastic children under treatment, the authors have seen three cases of fatigue fracture of the patella. One patient was spastic and two others were athetotic. The fatigue fractures can be explained by a flexed knee gait aggravated by a contracture of the hamstring tendons. No fracture was seen in patients treated by Egger's operation. It is concluded that this procedure both prevents and cures fatigue fracture of the patella.