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.     

A Method for Recording Tendon Strain in Sheep During Locomotion

A prospective, randomized trial of the effect of graded compression of the calf was done in 62 patients operated on electively for hip disease. After total hip arthroplasty, compression reduced the number of positive fibrinogen uptake tests by two-thirds, significant only in males, who seem to run a higher risk of thrombosis than females.     

Major Shortening of the Patellar Tendon During Septic Two-Stage Knee Arthroplasty Revision Using Static Spacers

BackgroundTwo-stage septic revision knee arthroplasty (TKA) often results in inferior functional outcome after reimplantation, which might be due to impairments of the extensor mechanism. The aim of the current study was to elucidate possible alterations in extensor mechanisms during septic two-stage revision of TKA treated with a static spacer.MethodsThis retrospective study included 87 patients (42 women, 45 men, age 64.5 ± 10.5; range, 29-85 years) undergoing septic two-stage TKA revision using a static spacer. The modified Insall Salvati ratio (mISR) was calculated via calibrated true lateral radiographs by two independent orthopedic surgeons before TKA explantation (G0), 6-8 days after TKA removal (G1), one day before TKA reimplantation (G2) and 6-8 days after TKA reimplantation (G3). Age, sex, body mass index (BMI), index C-reactive protein level, and number of previous surgeries were evaluated to identify the possible correlations.ResultsOverall, mISR significantly decreased within the first 6 days after index surgery from 1.71 ± 0.41 to 1.63 ± 0.41 (G0 versus G1, P < .001) and showed a further decline within the next 6 weeks to 1.54 ± 0.39 (G1 versus G2, P = .002). Conversely, mISR increased after reimplantation of TKA to 1.6 ± 0.43 (G3 versus G2, P = .08), though it did not regain preoperative baseline levels (G0 versus G3, P < .001). The subgroup with mISR decrease ≥10% experienced patellar tendon shortening of 16% between G0 and G1, 19% between G0 and G2 and up to 20% between G0 and G3. There were weak correlations concerning age (r = ?0.240, P = .038), preoperative C-reactive protein level (r = 0.239, P = .04) and patellar tendon shortening. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC)was 0.88 concerning radiographic measurement.ConclusionSeptic two-stage TKA revision using static spacers leads to irreversible alterations of the extensor mechanism, specifically a major shortening of the patellar tendon, in one out of 3 patients.Level of evidenceII.     

Complications in Brief: Quadriceps and Patellar Tendon Tears

Effective treatment of knee extensor mechanism disruptions requires prompt diagnosis and thoughtful decision-making with surgical and nonsurgical approaches. When surgery is chosen, excellent surgical technique can result in excellent outcomes. Complications and failures arise from missed or delayed diagnoses and from technical problems in the operating room. In particular, inappropriate surgical timing (especially late surgery), misplaced patellar drill holes, and failure to address concomitant injuries can result in complications seen when repairing a patellar or quadriceps tendon tear. We review the complications that can occur during treatment of these injuries (Table 1).

髌韧带前交叉韧带重建术的临床研究

作者对140例髌韧带膝关节前交叉韧带重建术后病人进行临床研究。疗效的主观评价(Lysholm评分法)平均为88.2分;临床膝关节稳定性测试105例(74.80％)前抽屉试验阴性;114例(81.40％)Lachman Test阴性;Stryker膝关节测量器检查结果121例(86.43％)阴性,本文结合文献评价髌韧带前交叉韧带重建术的疗效。     

髌腱动力重建膝关节交叉韧带

探讨陈旧性膝差了交叉韧带断裂重建术的必要性、手术时机及自体髌腱动力重建的优越性。方法：自体髌腱关节内动力重建前叉交韧带１０例,重建后交叉韧带３例。结果：经８月－４年６月的随访、总优良率达８４．６％。结论髌腱是重要膝关节交叉韧带的最佳材料,单纯关节骨髌腱动力重建术操作简单,疗效确切,功能恢复与病程长短有直接关系。     

保留止点半腱肌、股薄肌肌腱重建修复陈旧性髌韧带断裂2例报告

目的探讨利用保留止点半腱肌、股薄肌肌腱重建修复陈旧性髌韧带断裂的的治疗方法和疗效。方法采用保留止点半腱肌、股薄肌腱横穿髌骨隧道后重叠缝合重建髌韧带并加用减张钢丝固定方法治疗2例陈旧性髌韧带断裂。结果2例患者均得到随访,分别随访18个月与24个月。术后2、3、6、12、18个月及2年分别对2例病人进行Lysholm评分,术后1年平均分达到80分以上,显示治疗结果为优。结论对于陈旧性髌韧带断裂患者,取半腱肌及股薄肌对其加强重建辅以钢丝内固定手术为临床操作方便、疗效较为可靠的方法。     

Joint Infection Unique to Hamstring Tendon Harvester Used During Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Surgery

Joint infection after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is a rare but important clinical issue that must be resolved quickly to prevent secondary joint damage and preserve the graft. After careful analysis, we observed 3 infection cases within a 12-month period after ACL reconstruction, which represented an abnormally elevated risk. All reconstructions were performed by the same surgeon and used hamstring tendon allograft. For each surgery, the Target Tendon Harvester (DePuy Mitek, Raynham, MA) was used to harvest hamstring tendons. Through our review, we learned that this instrument was sterilized while assembled. It is our belief that ineffective sterilization of this hamstring graft harvester served as the origin for these infections. We have determined that appropriate sterilization technique involves disassembly of this particular hamstring tendon harvester before sterilization because of the tube-within-a-tube configuration. We have since continued to use the Target Tendon Harvester, disassembling it before sterilization. There have been no infections in the ensuing 12 months during which the surgeon performed over 40 primary ACL reconstructions via hamstring autograft. The information from this report is intended to provide arthroscopists with information about potential sources of infection after ACL reconstruction surgery.     

全膝置换术后的髌腱短缩及其临床影响

目的研究全膝置换(totalkneearthroplasty,TKA)术后的髌腱长度变化,置换髌骨对髌腱长度的影响,髌腱长度变化与术后膝关节活动度的关系。方法2002年5月~2003年12月对49例55个关节行初次全膝置换手术。包括48例骨关节炎、7例类风湿性关节炎,其中7例做了外侧支持带松解,测量术前的髌腱长度及术后1年的髌腱长度和膝关节活动度,按是否置换髌骨分成两组,对数据进行组间和组内统计学分析。结果术后1年,髌腱发生有统计学意义的短缩(P<0·01)。在短缩大于10%的发生率上,换与不换髌骨组没有统计学意义的差别(P>0·05)。髌腱短缩和关节活动度呈负相关(P<0·01)。结论全膝置换术后存在髌腱短缩的并发症。置换髌骨对髌腱短缩没有影响。髌腱短缩可能是导致术后活动度损失的原因之一。     

Simultaneous Acute Rupture of the Patellar Tendon and the Anterior Cruciate Ligament

We present 3 cases of simultaneous rupture of the patellar tendon and the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and discuss the diagnosis and treatment of this infrequent association. Between 1997 and 2000, 3 patients with a mean age of 37 years were treated with an ACL reconstruction and repair of the patellar tendon. The average follow-up was 3 years. Two of them were initially misdiagnosed. At follow-up, all patients had stable knees and the average Lysholm score was 95. In acute knee injuries with gross anteroposterior instability and a huge hematoma, the occurrence of this complex lesion should be considered. A careful clinical evaluation may be correlated with magnetic resonance imaging findings to provide the orthopaedic surgeon with the appropriate information for planning the timing and surgical treatment.