Use of patellar allograft to reconstruct a patellar tendon-deficient knee after total joint arthroplasty

A catastrophic complication after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is rupture of the patellar tendon. Several techniques for treatment have been described, including cast immobilization with or without operative repair, the use of a semitendinosus, fascia lata, or hamstring tendon autogenous graft, the use of a Dacron 4-mm vascular graft (U.S. Catheter and Instrument, Glen Falls, NY), the use of bovine xenograft and even transplantation of an entire allograft extensor mechanism. Treatment results of patellar tendon rupture after TKA can be discouraging. Altered tissue quality secondary to connective tissue diseases, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus erythematosus, secondary hyperparathyroidism, or concurrent steroid medications contributes to poor results. Additionally, no one treatment has provided consistent clinical success. Successful treatment of a patient with a ruptured patellar tendon after TKA using the bone-patellar tendon-bone allograft commonly used for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction is reported.