Surgical factors associated with symptomatic implant removal after patella fracture

•Individuals with k-wires were 4.9 times more likely to have symptomatic removal of implant.•Implant prominence exceeding 5 mm might be associated with increased odds of symptomatic implant removal in patients with patella fractures.•Patients with BMI ≤25 and age ≤45 were more likely to have symptomatic removal of implant.