Painful knee

ABSTRACT Introduction: A bipartite patella is a rare anatomical variant of the patella. A patella bipartite is often asymptomatic and is often an incidental finding on radiological imaging. The patella remains bipartite when secondary ossification centers fail to fuse. Herein, a case of bipartite patella improved after knee arthroscopy and surgical removal. Presentation of the case: A 57-year-old male with a history of polytrauma. He complained of progressive pain in the right knee area. A radiological investigation reported a right bipartite patella. The condition improved after the open removal of the accessory patella. Discussion: This case is considered type III according to Saupe's classification. Due to its location and radiological appearance, it is a painful synchondrosis of a bipartite patella. Conclusion: After the failure of conservative management, the removal of the bipartite patella was necessary and unavoidable to restore everyday activities. Highlights