The patellar ligament: A comprehensive review

The patellar ligament (PL) is an epiphyseal ligament and is part of the extensor complex of the knee. The ligament has gained attention due to its clinical relevance to autograft and tendinopathy. A variety of anatomical variations of the PL such as aplasia, numerical variations, and vascularity are being reported recently by clinicians and anatomists. The aim of this literature was to review the available literature to provide a consensus regarding anatomic variations of the PL, neurovasculature surrounding the PL, histology of the PL, and various aspects of PL measurements with relevance to the surgical considerations and sex and age-related differences. A narrative review of the patellar ligament was performed by conducting a detailed literature search and review of relevant articles. A total of 90 articles on the patellar ligament were included and were categorized into studies based on anatomical variations, neurovasculature, morphometrics, microanatomy, sex and age-related difference, and ACL reconstruction. The anatomical variations and morphometrics of the PL were found to correlate with the frequency of strain injuries, tendinopathy, and efficacy of the PL autograft in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. The sex differences in PL measurements and the effect of estrogen on collagen synthesis explained a higher incidence of patellar tendinopathy in women. An awareness of its variations enables careful selection of surgical incisions, thereby avoiding complications related to nerve injury. Accurate knowledge of the PL microanatomy assists in understanding the mechanism of ligament degeneration, rupture, autograft harvesting, and ligamentization results.     

国人髌腱长度测量在髌骨不稳诊断中的意义

[目的]比较国人正常膝关节与髌骨不稳膝关节的髌腱长度,探讨国人髌腱长度的测量在髌骨不稳诊断中的意义。[方法]2003年1月~2005年12月诊治的43例髌骨不稳患者共49膝(男15例,女28例,6例为双侧髌骨不稳);平均年龄21.4岁(18~28岁);平均身高163(155~173)cm。正常对照组为50例健康体检者共50膝(男16例,女34例);平均年龄24.2岁(18~35岁);平均身高165(154~177)cm。在屈膝30°X线侧位片上测量髌腱长度、胫骨结节至胫骨平台的距离、Insall-Salvati指数。[结果]髌骨不稳组髌腱长度为(53.3±2.7)mm,对照组为(47.3 3.3)mm,统计学上具有显著差异性(P<0.05)。Insall-Salvati指数在髌骨不稳组(1.33±0.17)和对照组(1.06±0.14)也具统计学差异(P<0.05)。胫骨平台与胫骨结节之间的距离在髌骨不稳组为(27.8±3.6)mm,对照组为(28.9±4.1)mm,统计学上无显著性差异(P<0.05)。[结论]髌腱长度过长是髌骨不稳的重要特点之一。联合测量髌腱长度和Insall-Salvati指数有助于髌骨不稳的诊断。     

膝内侧改良切口结合NT-pc治疗粉碎性髌骨骨折

目的 寻找一种有利于粉碎性髌骨骨折术中复位、固定和术后恢复的手术入路。方法 采用膝内侧改良切口结合NT-聚髌器(NT-pc)治疗粉碎性髌骨骨折38例，其中碎骨块呈3块者18例、4块者13例、5块者5例、6块者2例。结果 38例随访时间3个月—2年6个月，除1例因二次手术病程较长、1例术后缺乏锻炼致膝关节功能稍受影响外，其他患者膝关节活动均恢复正常，切口愈合好，按李纯志等疗效评定标准，优良率94．7％。结论 膝内侧改良切口具有充分显露髌骨、切口短、组织损伤小，有利于术中手指对骨块抚平复位和对关节面复位质量的检查及术后功能恢复；NT-pc符合张力带原理，对严重粉碎性髌骨骨折的骨折面具有持续的纵向及横向的应力作用，有复位及固定的双重作用。对于严重粉碎性髌骨骨折，采用内侧改良切口及NT-pc固定不失为一种较理想的方法。     

Tensile Tests of Collagen Fibers Obtained from the Rabbit Patellar Tendon

Tensile properties of collagen fibers of approximately 1 m in diameter were determined using a newly developed micro tensile test system for cells and fine fibrous biological tissues. The test system consists of a thermostatic test chamber, an inverted microscope, micromanipulators, a direct drive linear actuator, a cantilever-type load cell, and a video dimension analyzer (VDA). The fibers were isolated with a mechanical method from collagen fascicles (approximately 300 m in diameter) cut out from the rabbit patellar tendon. The ends of each fiber were attached to the tips of a pair of glass microtubes (15 to 20 m in outer diameter) using a cyanoacrylate adhesive. One of the microtubes was attached to the load cell; the other one was connected to the linear actuator which was utilized to stretch the fiber. Load applied to the fiber was measured with the load cell, while its elongation was determined with the VDA using the images of the edges of the adhesive as markers. Tangent modulus, tensile strength, and strain at failure of the tested fibers were 54.3± 25.1 MPa, 8.5± 2.6 MPa, and 21.6± 3.0%, respectively. These values were much different from those of collagen fascicles (300 m in diameter) cut out from the rabbit patellar tendon and also from those of the bulk patellar tendon (Trans. ASME, J. Biomech. Eng. 121, 124–294, 1999); for example, tensile strength and strain at failure of the fibers were approximately 50 and 200% of those of the fascicles, respectively. These results suggest that the mechanical interactions between fibers and between fibers and ground substances contribute much to the mechanical properties of collagen fascicles and bulk tendons.     

Novel Rim Plating Technique for Treatment of the Inferior Pole Fracture of the Patella

To aim of the present paper was to introduce a novel fixation technique for the treatment of inferior pole fracture of the patella. We performed a prospective observational study of consecutive cases of inferior pole fracture of the patella that were treated at our institution between January 2018 and June 2019. The patients include three men and one woman, with an average age of 47 years (range: 42–59 years). All patients were treated with the novel rim plating fixation technique for preserving the inferior pole of the patella. During the surgery, a 2.4 mm straight locking compression plate was contoured to adapt to the arc of the lower half of the patella as the rim plate. After reduction of the fracture, the rim plate was fixed to the proximal fragment of the patella through multiple locking screws, against the continuous pull of the patellar tendon. The rim plate encircles and constricts the inferior pole fragments, functioning as a compression and blocking construct. If necessary, an additional anterior tension band or mini locking plate can be used to further prevent anterior displacement of the inferior pole fragments. Under this rigid fixation, motion of the knee and full weight‐bearing were encouraged postoperatively. The patients were followed up monthly until 12 months after surgery. The time to achieve 90°pain‐free, full range of motion of the knee, and fracture healing, were recorded. Related complications were monitored, including infection, loss of reduction, fixation failure, anterior knee pain, and soft‐tissue irritation. The modified Cincinnati knee rating system was used for knee function assessment. The average operative time was 58.8 min (range: 52–63 min). The average blood loss was 59.8 mL (range: 45–71 mL). For all patients, pain‐free 90° range of motion was restored in 2–4 weeks, and the full range of motion was restored in 8–11 weeks. All patients achieved bone union in 6–9 weeks with no displacement of the fragments or breakage of the implant. No patient complained of anterior knee pain or soft‐tissue irritation. The modified Cincinnati score at 12‐month follow up demonstrated excellent outcomes in all four patients. The rim plating technique may be a feasible option for the treatment of the inferior pole fracture of the patella.     

髌骨矢状面截骨术对髌骨倾斜病理应力分布的生物力学影响

目的：研究髌骨矢状面截骨术对髌骨倾斜病理应力分布的影响。方法：采用手术方法将七具新鲜人尸体膝关节标本的髌骨外侧支持带紧缩，造成髌骨过度外侧倾斜，然后进行四个不同截骨角的髌骨矢状面截骨术。股四头肌腱加载200N。分别于正常状态、髌骨倾斜、截骨5°、10°、15°、20°六种工况下，应用压敏片测量髌股关节接触压力与面积。摄屈膝45°Merchant髌骨轴位片，测量髌骨倾斜角，了解髌骨倾斜程度。结果与结论：髌骨倾斜后，髌骨内侧接触面积与压力均减少，外例接触面积与压力均增加，屈膝30°时最显著。截骨10°以上，明显改善了髌骨倾斜的应力分布，其中截骨15°改善较为理想。本实验结果为临床上髌骨矢状面截骨术中截骨角的选择提供了可靠依据。     

膝前框形钢丝内固定治疗髌骨骨折

目的探讨采用钢丝环扎 膝前方框形张力带钢丝内固定法治疗髌骨骨折的经验和临床效果.方法对35例髌骨骨折应用此方法治疗,基中男性24例,女性11例,30例获得3～24个月随访.结果优19例,良10例,可1例,优良率96.7%.术后未出现骨折再移位,无伤口感染.愈合时间6～12周.结论该方法符合生物力学原理,操作简便,适应证广,能早期关节活动,是治疗髌骨骨折的理想方法之一.     

聚髌器与改良张力带治疗髌骨粉碎性骨折疗效比较

为比较两种不同内固定方式在治疗髌骨粉碎性骨折中的临床疗效,将60例病人采用随机分组方法分成两组,分别采用镍钛记忆合金聚髌器(Niti-Patellar Concentrator NT-PC)(A组)和改良张力带钢丝内固定(B组)治疗,并对手术时间、术后骨折复位情况、骨折愈合时间、术后功能锻炼开始时间、膝关节屈曲达到90°的时间、手术后膝关节功能完全恢复时间及术后的并发症等结果进行比较.结果显示A组在手术时间、术后膝关节功能锻炼开始时间、膝关节屈曲达到90°和完全恢复的时间及骨折愈合的时间均早于B组,术后骨折复位比B组好(P＜0.05),手术后无并发症.表明治疗髌骨粉碎性骨折NT-PC比改良张力带钢丝内固定有更广泛的适应症与更理想的效果.