Summary

Quadriceps and patellar tendon rupture

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a difference in knee function between patients with quadriceps tendon rupture and patellar tendon ruptures after acute surgical repair.

Methods

The study population included 24 patients; 13 patients suffered from quadriceps tendon rupture while 11 patients from patellar tendon rupture. All patients underwent acute surgical repair using heavy non-absorbable trans-osseous sutures; another non-absorbable suture, passed through both retinaculum and around the repaired tendon to augment the repair. Clinical evaluation was performed using the Lysholm, Kujala, and VAS scoring systems. In addition, radiographic evaluation to evaluate patella femoral joint arthritis using Iwano’s classification was performed.

Results

The average follow-up time was 70.5 months. All patients in the quadriceps tendon group had full range of knee motion while 3 patients (27%) that had suffered a patellar tendon rupture had reduced knee flexion. Patients in the quadriceps tendon group had a significantly higher Kujala score in comparison to the patellar tendon group following surgical intervention (88 vs 73 p=0.033). No significant differences were identified between the two groups according to the Lysholm scoring system. Patients in the quadriceps tendon group had significantly less pain according to VAS scale (1.2 vs 3.5 p=0.012). Radiographic evaluation revealed that, two patients from each group showed signs of grade II patello femoral joint arthritis.

Conclusions

According to our study, acute surgical repair of quadriceps tendon ruptures has better prognosis and provides better knee function, in comparison to the surgical restoration of patellar tendon rupture.