Repair of Quadriceps and Patellar Tendon Tears

Tears of the quadriceps or patellar tendon usually occur after a sudden eabccentric contraction and are diagnosed by a palpable gap at the injury site combined with an inability to perform a straight leg raise. Bilateral knee radiographs may demonstrate patella alta with patellar tendon tears and patella baja with quadriceps tendon tears compared with the uninjured knee. Ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging can be helpful when there is uncertainty in the diagnosis. Surgical treatment is indicated for complete tears and some high-grade, partial tears. Nonabsorbable high-strength sutures or suture tape are placed in running locking fashion along the injured tendon and secured to the patella with bone tunnels (i.e., transosseous) or suture anchors. The transosseous technique requires exposure of the length of the patella to drill 3 bone tunnels to shuttle the sutures and tie over either pole of the patella. The suture anchor technique allows for a smaller incision and less soft-tissue dissection and may use a knotted or knotless technique. Biomechanical testing with load to failure is not statistically different between the transosseous and anchor techniques, although anchors have been shown to have less gap formation at the repair site. Repair augmentation with a graft may be beneficial in mid-substance injuries, chronic tears, and in cases of compromised tissue quality. Rehabilitation usually can be initiated immediately with protected weight-bearing in an orthosis, safe-zone knee passive range of motion, and avoidance of active extension. After a period of 6 weeks, rehabilitation can progress with full range of motion and a concentric strengthening program.     

Repair of quadriceps tendon ruptures using suture anchors

The repair of ruptured quadriceps tendon is commonly performed by weaving sutures through the ruptured tendon and then attaching the tendon to the bone by passing these sutures through tunnels in the superior patella. This technical note is the first report we are aware of in the English language literature of a technique that uses suture anchors to attach the tendon to bone.Arthroscopy: The Journal of Arthroscopic and Related Surgery, Vol 18, No 5 (May-June), 2002: pp 556–559     

Quadriceps and patellar tendon ruptures

Ruptures of the quadriceps as well as the patellar tendon occur in low frequency, but cause major functional deficits of the leg. These injuries usually require operative treatment. Acute quadriceps tendon ruptures are treated by suture repair, using heavy sutures guided through bone tunnels in the patella. Chronic defects and neglected cases require a local tendon transfer, either by a quadriceps tendon turn-down or by a V-Y-plasty of the quadriceps tendon. Ruptures of the patellar tendon are treated by suture of the tendon stumps plus an reinforcement procedure protecting the tendon and avoiding secondary patella alta. Patello-tibial fixation may be achieved by a cerclage technique using wire or an autologous tendon strip, alternatively a patello-tibial external fixator can be applied. In chronic and neglected cases, patellar tendon reconstruction is performed with autologous tendon grafts or with soft tissue allografts. The graft must be protected by a patello-tibial fixation for the first weeks.     

带线锚钉“8”字缝合固定髌骨下极骨折

[目的]介绍带线锚钉“8”字缝合固定髌骨下极骨折的手术技术和初步临床应用效果。[方法]2017年6月-2019年12月采用上述技术固定髌骨下极骨折38例。行膝前正中切口,暴露骨折端。于近髌骨置人1枚5.0 mm带线锚钉。锚钉旁使用2-0克氏针自髌骨前方分别斜向两侧钻孔至髌骨后方关节面,出针点在骨折断端上方约0.1 mm,使用硬膜外导针将锚钉上两股缝线的单边分别自上述钻孔中引出,锚钉线分别从髌骨下极两侧缝合编织在髌韧带上,自行打结收紧。然后将两股缝线上的另一单边自髌骨一侧锚钉处为起点,连续缝合至同侧髌韧带近端,绕髌韧带缝合至对侧,再缝合至起点处自行收紧打结。[结果]38例患者均顺利完成手术。骨折愈合时间14?16周,无内固定失效病例,膝关节稳定性良好。术后12个月Bostman髌骨骨折评级标准,优30例,良7例,优良率97.37%。[结论]带线锚钉治疗髌骨下极骨折,修复了伸膝装置,操作简单安全,术后膝关节功能恢复优良,且无需二次手术取出,疗效满意。     

高强度聚酯纤维缝线减张治疗陈旧性髌腱断裂

目的 探讨陈旧性髌腱断裂的临床特点,介绍采用高强度聚酯纤维缝线减张治疗陈旧性髌腱断裂的手术方法 和术后康复方法 .方法 2002年1月至2007年2月,收治陈旧性髌腱断裂6例,手术切断超长的瘢痕愈合髌腱组织.恢复长度后重新吻合,并在胫骨结节和髌骨两端钻骨孔,采用4根高强度聚酯纤维缝线经骨孔减张保护.术后对患者采用积极的康复锻炼方案:术后第1天即町下地直立行走及被动屈膝90°,休息和睡眠时不须支具石膏固定保护;术后3周起开始练习主动抬腿;术后6周后开始练习快走,负重2 kg直腿抬高;术后12周后开始练习上下楼梯和下蹲;术后6个月后开始正常运动以及蹬跳运动.结果 术后随访1～5年,平均3.2年.患者早期即可以活动并可以下床直立行走,所有患者均未出现再断裂.手术6个月以后,患者均恢复正常的平地行走、跑步能力等,屈膝基本达到对侧的水平,股四头肌力量良好.Lysholm评分均能达到100分.结论 高强度聚酯纤维缝线减张治疗陈旧性髌腱断裂,创伤小,方法 简单,不须外加牵引,不须石膏固定,不须二次手术取内固定.积极的康复训练允许患者早期行走,效果可靠.     

Complete exposure of the articular surface for fixation of patellar fractures

Anterior tension band fixation constructs are among the mainstay of treatment of patella fractures and lead to reliable results with simple transverse fracture patterns. However, comminuted fractures of the patella require much more extensive articular reconstruction than interdigitating two large fragments to achieve a good result. In this report, we describe a technique for exposure, reduction, and stabilization of patella fractures that allows for direct visual reduction of the articular surface. Subsequent devices are applied directly to the bony surfaces of the patella without soft-tissue interposition, which distinguishes it from traditional approaches. This technique may be used to ensure articular surface congruity in simple transverse fractures and may be particularly useful in comminuted fractures when patellar excision would otherwise be considered.     

A novel technique for reconstruction of the medial patellofemoral ligament in skeletally immature patients

Habitual or recurrent dislocation of the patella in the skeletally immature patient is a particularly demanding problem since the etiology is frequently multifactorial. The surgical techniques successfully performed in adults with patellar instability may risk injury to an open growth plate if applied to children. We present a technique that preserves femoral and patellar insertion anatomy of medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) using a free semitendinosus autograft together with tenodesis to the adductor magnus tendon without damaging open physis on the patellar attachment of MPFL. A 3-cm long longitudinal skin incision is performed 10 mm distal to the tibial tuberosity on the anteromedial side. The semitendinosus tendon is harvested with the stripper. The semitendinosus tendon is placed on a preparation board and cleaned of muscle tissue. The usable part of the tendon should be at least 20 cm long and 4 mm wide. The two free ends of the graft are sutured with Krakow technique. A medial longitudinal incision 2 cm in length is made to expose the MPFL and to abrade the patellar attachment of vastus medialis obliquus. The first patellar tunnel is created with 4.5 mm drill at the mid aspect of the medial patella in the anteroposterior and proximal–distal direction. The drill hole is formed parallel to the articular surface of the center of the patella. The second tunnel is created with 3.2 mm drill and the entry point is localized at the center of the patella. These two tunnels intersect to form a single tunnel. The semitendinosus autograft is run through the bone tunnel in the patella. Double-stranded semitendinosus autograft is placed in the presynovial fatty plane between the second and the third layer of the medial retinaculum, and tenodesis to adductor magnus tendon is applied by a moderate medial force with the knee flexed at 30°. Aftercare includes immobilization of the joint limited to 30° flexion using an above-knee splint for 2 weeks. No recurrent dislocation was observed in three patients (4 knees) at a mean follow-up time of 17.7 months. Both range of motion and radiological finding were restored to normal limits.     

The management of patella infera in current practice

Patella infera described by Caton et al.The measurement is made in 1982 is an accompanying symptom in certain knee affections secondary to the abnormal situation of the patella. The measurement is made on the X-ray with sagittal view after measuring the patellar height, using the original technique described by the author, when the ratio between the articular surface of the patella and the distance form the patellar tip to the tibial tubercle. Indications of surgery may be when this ration is inferior or equals 0.6. The origin of the patella infera can be mechanical or inflammatory. The operative technique addresses the etiology. In current practice, the patellar height and the patellar tendon length may be evaluated using a sagittal section MRI. In the authors’ experience, when the Caton ratio is lower or equals 0.6 and when the length of the patellar tendon is over 25 mm, the indication of surgery includes proximal transfer of the tibial tubercle. If the length of the patellar tendon is less than 25 mm, it is often necessary to perform a patellar tendon lengthening (PTL). This type of surgery is contraindicated in the authors’ experience in depressive or pusillanimous subjects. The two surgical techniques are described. Both techniques use an anterior and medial approach. The proximal transfer of the tibial tubercle (PTT) includes medial and lateral retinaculum release. The tibial tubercle is detached and transferred upwards according to the pre-operative planning generally 1 or 2 cm and is fixed with 2 screws. PTL includes a medial and lateral retinaculum release often with the fat pad. The patellar tendon is dissociated in the middle over its whole length, and the medial pad is detached of the tibial tubercle and the lateral of the patella. After lengthening, the edges of the tendon are sutured, and this suturing reinforced. Alternative procedures may be used when PTT or PTL are not possible, using transplantation with an allograft of the extensor system or a plasty with hamstring muscles.     

Editorial Commentary: Two Fixation Points Are Better for Medial Patellofemoral Ligament Reconstruction—To Minimize Complications,Bone Tunnels Should Be Avoided

Medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) reconstruction has gained in popularity over the past 15 years, with most studies showing a clear advantage over techniques such as MPFL repair or medial imbrication for the treatment of patellar instability. A debate continues as to the type of fixation on the patella, tunnel versus suture anchor, as well as the number of fixation points. In fact, some senior patellofemoral surgeons have opted away from patellar bony fixation altogether to avoid complications associated with patellar fixation such as fracture or penetration of the articular cartilage. In my practice, I prefer to use 2 all-suture suture anchors for patellar fixation as there is minimal risk of fracture or significant cartilage damage compared with tunnel drilling or placement of larger suture anchors. The graft choice for MPFL reconstruction has been shown to be relatively unimportant, and for this reason, I typically choose gracilis allograft to avoid graft-site morbidity and hamstring weakness.     

In‐vivo patellar tendon kinematics during weight‐bearing deep knee flexion

This study quantified in‐vivo 3D patellar tendon kinematics during weight‐bearing deep knee bend beyond 150°. Each knee was MRI scanned to create 3D bony models of the patella, tibia, femur, and the attachment sites of the patellar tendon on the distal patella and the tibial tubercle. Each attachment site was divided into lateral, central, and medial thirds. The subjects were then imaged using a dual fluoroscopic image system while performing a deep knee bend. The knee positions were determined using the bony models and the fluoroscopic images. The patellar tendon kinematics was analyzed using the relative positions of its patellar and tibial attachment sites. The relative elongations of all three portions of the patellar tendon increased similarly up to 60°. Beyond 60°, the relative elongation of the medial portion of the patellar tendon decreased as the knee flexed from 60° to 150° while those of the lateral and central portions showed continuous increases from 120° to 150°. At 150°, the relative elongation of the medial portion was significantly lower than that of the central portion. In four of seven knees, the patellar tendon impinged on the tibial bony surface at 120° and 150° of knee flexion. These data may provide useful insight into the intrinsic patellar tendon biomechanics during a weight‐bearing deep knee bend and could provide biomechanical guidelines for future development of total knee arthroplasties that are intended to restore normal knee function. © 2012 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 30:1596–1603, 2012     

The patellofemoral component of total knee arthroplasty

Patellofemoral complications continue to form a large proportion (up to 50%) of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) complications. If adequate attention is paid intraoperatively to patellar tracking and component position, the incidence of subluxation, component loosening, and fracture should decrease. When treating patellar subluxation and dislocation, tibial tubercle transfer should be avoided because there is an unacceptably high incidence of complications. Care should be taken to treat the underlying cause of dislocation with either a soft tissue procedure or component revision. Fracture of the patella may be treated nonoperatively in 50% and 80% of patients. Cysts, if large, may be bone-grafted to avoid the potential complications of stress fracture and component loosening. Loosening of the patellar component is likely to be symptomatic and to require surgery in up to 75% of cases. A displaced patellar component may cause attritional wear of the quadriceps tendon or patellar ligament. All rheumatoid patellae should be resurfaced. The present trend in the osteoarthritic patella is toward resurfacing more often. With improved implant design and a predicted decrease in complications, resurfacing in the osteoarthritic patella may become routine. Osteoarthritic patellae that maintain good cartilage, normal anatomic shape, and congruent tracking need not be resurfaced.     

Repair of patellar tendon rupture using suture anchors

Acute isolated rupture of the patellar tendon traditionally has been repaired via transpatellar suture tunnels. This retrospective study evaluated the demographics and epidemiology of this injury as well as the effectiveness and complication rates of our suture anchor technique. Between 1993 and 2005, a total of 82 cases of patellar tendon disruption in 71 patients were repaired. Fourteen cases involved basic primary repair with suture anchors of an acute isolated rupture of the patellar tendon and had an average follow-up of 29 months (range: 3-112 months). There were 3 (21%) failures of repair. The remaining 11 patients had excellent range of motion and strength and returned to their preoperative level of function. These results are comparable with other reports in the literature. The suture anchor technique thus represents a viable option for repair of patellar tendon ruptures and should be investigated further with a randomized, controlled trial.     

Ruptures of the extensor mechanism of the knee joint. Clinical results and patellofemoral articulation

The functional results of 28 cases of rupture of the quadriceps and patellar tendons are reported. Excellent or good results were noted in 15 of 18 quadriceps and 7 of 10 patellar tendons. Radiographic comparison with the opposite knee disclosed incongruences between the patella and the femoral groove in the tangential view and/or cranial-caudal position of the patella in the lateral view in 13 of the quadriceps tendon ruptures and seven of the patellar tendon ruptures. Patients with residual pain had patellofemoral incongruity but since two-thirds of the patients with incongruity were asymptomatic, incongruity alone may not be the cause of the symptoms. There was no positive correlation to muscular strength or range of movement. Nevertheless, exact adaptation of the patellar tendon and periarticular tissue seems necessary to obtain correct patello-femoral articulation. Reinforcement of the tendon with a wire cerclage is recommended to decrease the tension on the suture line and the consequent risk of a secondary rupture. In acute ruptures of the quadriceps tendon end-to-end sutures are sufficient.     

Anatomical reconstruction of the patellar tendon: a new technique with hamstring tendons and iliotibial tract.

A new technique of patellar tendon reconstruction was performed in a patient who lost tendon and tibial tuberosity during wide excision surgery for a malignancy. In this procedure, the tendon was anatomically replaced by a graft composed of ipsilateral hamstring tendons and iliotibial tract, with the biomechanical conditions considered. Both ends of the graft were secured in the size-matched bone tunnels in the patella and tibia by screw post fixation, which is a technique established in ligament reconstruction surgery in the knee joint. At the twenty-month follow-up, the result was deemed successful.     

A method of repair for quadriceps tendon or patellar ligament (tendon) ruptures without cast immobilization. Preliminary report

The quadriceps tendon and patellar tendon (ligament) were repaired with a Dacron vascular graft used as a tension suture material. In cases of quadriceps tendon ruptures, the Dacron graft is passed transversely through the patellar ligament just below the patella and crossed transversely at the level of the musculotendinous junction with two loops applying tension to the tendon, which brings the tendon ends together by creating a solid structure. In cases of patellar ligament ruptures, the Dacron graft is passed through a hole in the tibia posteriorly to the tibial tuberosity instead of through the patellar ligament below the patella. This technique enables early mobilization on the first day after surgery. The technique was first tested on six dogs with severed quadriceps tendons and patellar ligaments that were repaired with this suture method. All of the animals recovered from surgery and walked and ran normally on the repaired legs within 27 days and with only mild limping after 17 days. The technique was then used on six patients, four with complete quadriceps tendon rupture and two with complete tear (avulsion) of the patellar ligament (tendon). In all of the patients, excellent surgical results were obtained and leg immobilization was virtually eliminated. Physical therapy was prescribed the first day after surgery. The rehabilitation period was significantly reduced.     

Distalization of the patella during tibial callus distraction

Consecutive distalization of the patella is described in two patients undergoing segmental transportation after high tibial corticotomy. Revision surgery with loosening and proximal reattachment of a portion of the patellar ligament bridging the callus distraction zone could re-establish the correct patellar position. Despite excellent callus formation after tibial corticotomy just below the tibial tuberositas, this procedure should be performed more distally as the fibers of the patellar tendon spread laterally and distally. Received: 16 October 1996     

Editorial Commentary: From Lateral Release and Medial Plication to Complex Medial Patellofemoral Ligament Reconstruction Techniques: Medial Quadriceps Tendon Femoral Ligament Reconstruction Is the Most Anatomic Repair

Patella instability and dislocation are common in younger patients, and 1 in 5 patients are at risk of recurrent dislocations. Conservative treatment should be considered for first dislocations unless other concomitant injuries are present. Historically, lateral patella release and medial plication techniques were used for repair but have been superseded by medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction. Overconstraint is a potential problem and often related to nonanatomic femoral tunnel position and graft tension, which could result in increased patellar contact pressures and graft failure. The medial quadriceps tendon–femoral ligament reconstruction technique (MQTFL) avoids patellar tunnels without the risk of patella fracture. When comparing medial patellofemoral ligament, MQTFL, and the combination of both techniques in a cadaver model, MQTFL resulted in less constraint with no differences for patellar contact pressures. Medial quadriceps tendon femoral ligament reconstruction is the most anatomic repair.     

Patellar alignment evaluated by MRI

We analyzed the congruence of the articular cartilage surfaces and the corresponding subchondral bone in the patellar joint. 20 volunteers underwent MRI investigations of the right patellar joint in 20° and 45° flexion in the axial plane. The sulcus, congruence, and lateral patellofemoral angles, measured on MRI slices centered through the midtrans-verse patella, were recorded. In 20° and 45° knee flexion, the bony sulcus and lateral patellofemoral angles were significantly different from the respective cartilagineous angle. We conclude that 1) measurement of the bony sulcus and lateral patellofemoral angles does not allow conclusions about the articular cartilage surface and its thickness, 2) the bony congruence angle corresponds well to the articular cartilage surface as an indicator of patellar centralization.     

Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using semitendinosus and gracilis tendons,bone patellar tendon,or quadriceps tendon-graft with press-fit fixation without hardware. A new and innovative procedure

BONE--PATELLAR TENDON: The "no hardware" technique for ACL reconstruction is a new method that offers many advantages and is straightforward to perform. Its main innovative feature is that it does not require bone-block harvesting from the patella. This reduces donor site morbidity and prevents patellar fractures. The bone tunnels are made using tube harvesters and compaction drilling. This minimizes trauma and obviates the risk of bone necrosis. The articular entrance of the tibial tunnel is completely occupied by the grafts. This prevents a windshield-wiper effect and synovial fluid ingress into the tunnel, and enhances graft incorporation. The fact that no hardware is used with both patellar tendon or hamstring grafts significantly reduces the overall cost of the operation and facilitates revision surgery. The quadriceps tendon is also a very good graft. It is thick and has good biomechanical properties and low donor site morbidity. Its disadvantages are: weakness of quadriceps after the operation, an unsightly scar, and some difficulty in graft harvesting [58]. Also, postoperative MRI is not fraught with the problem of metal artifacts. It is difficult to decide which of the methods currently available for ACL reconstruction is the best because most of them give satisfactory results. In the future, assessments of knee ligament reconstruction techniques should look at long-term stability combined with low complication rates. Ease of revision surgery and low cost should also be taken into consideration, given the large annual volume of knee ligament reconstructions (50,000 in the United States alone) [59]. We believe that our technique addresses most of these issues, and that it constitutes a useful alternative method for ACL reconstruction. SEMITENDINOSUS--GRACILIS: This technique, which was used with 915 patients from June 1998 to February 2002, shows a particularly low rate of postoperative morbidity. The reason is probably to be found in the "waterproofing" of the bone tunnels, which lead to less postoperative bleeding and swelling. No drains were used. Rehabilitation follows the same protocol as used for the reconstruction using patellar tendon grafts (accelerated/functional). As expected, there was no widening of the femoral tunnels and little widening of the tibial tunnels. Interestingly, tibial tunnel enlargement was significantly less in a nonaccelarated rehabilitation group than in the accelerated group [60] without affecting stability. The measured internal torque of the hamstrings, as well as their flexion force, already had returned to normal 12 months postoperatively. In a prospective randomized (unpublished) study comparing this technique with ACL reconstruction with BPT grafts with medial or lateral third with only one bone plug (from the tibial tuberosity, see technique described above), we found no significant difference between both groups in subjective scores, stability, KT-1000 values, Tegner activity score, and IKDC at 1-year follow-up. Only the results of kneeling and knee walking testing were significantly better in the hamstring group [61]. In summary, the advantages of this presented technique are: (1) the knot of the graft is close proximally to the anatomic site of the insertion of the ACL, thus avoiding the Bungee effect.; (2) the press-fit tunnel fixation prevents synovial fluid entering the bone tunnels, windshield-wiper effect, and longitudinal motion within the tunnel; the intensive contact between the bony wall of the tunnel and graft collagen over a long distance without any suture material results in quick and complete graft incorporation; and (3) no fixation material means no hardware problems, facilitates revision surgery, and lowers overall costs.     

Electrosurgical Arthroscopic Patellar Denervation

Patellofemoral pain depends on many pathophysiologic factors and may be difficult to manage. It often occurs with no apparent cause in young persons. A new arthroscopic technique based on anatomic and pathophysiologic studies is described here for the treatment of patients with patellofemoral pain and no or minimal malalignment. Nociceptive receptors are richly distributed in the peripatellar soft tissue. We surmised that a thermal lesion to this region would lead to desensitization of the anterior knee area, referred to as patellar denervation. With the leg in maximum extension, the electrocoagulator is inserted through a combined anterointernal and suprapatellar approach to access the entire perimeter of the patella. A simple thermal lesion to the peripatellar soft tissue in the region closest to the patella is enough to obliterate a considerable number of nociceptive receptors. This thermal lesion should not include the region of the patellar tendon because this is an important site of entry for vessels reaching the patella, and injury to these vessels may cause patellar necrosis. Patellar denervation achieved through this simple technique may offer a solution for patients with intractable patellofemoral pain with no evident alterations.