Early patellar tendon rupture after total knee arthroplasty: A direct repair method

Patellar tendon restoration techniques: a systematic review of outcomes for repair and reconstruction methods

PURPOSE

This systematic review aims to delineate the various methods to repair or reconstruct the patellar tendon using the available literature.

METHODS

MEDLINE and PubMed electronic databases were searched for English language clinical studies involving patellar tendon rupture repair or reconstruction that reported patient-reported outcome scores (PROS) between January 1st, 1953 and June 17th, 2021. Data was extracted on full text articles to collect functional outcome scores and rupture category, including acute, chronic, post-total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and post-anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR).

RESULTS

Twenty-three studies with a total of 738 patients were included. Of the 14 studies including acute repairs, mean postoperative Lvsholm scores ranged from 84 to 99.5. Knee Society Score (KSS) and knee range of motion (ROM) measurement were the most widely reported outcomes in the chronic setting. The average postoperative KSS scores ranged from 70 to 87.7. Of the six studies that included patellar tendon repairs/reconstructions in the setting of prior TKA, the most frequently reported outcomes were KSS scores and knee ROM measurements. The average postoperative KSS scores for the three cohorts reporting reconstruction with allograft ranged from 79 to 88 as compared to the average postoperative KSS score for reconstruction with autograft of 70.

CONCLUSION

Despite this heterogeneity, we concluded: (1) in the primary setting, cerclage augmentation yields the lowest lysholm scores and should not be considered, although primary repairs with and without augmentation yield comparable postoperative lysholm scores, (2) in the chronic setting, repair with augmentation and reconstruction yielded similar results aside from in post-TKA patients where allograft reconstruction yielded superior KSS scores.

Surgical treatment of patellar tendon rupture after total knee arthroplasty with a double-row repair method using the hamstring tendons: A novel technique with functional results

BACKGROUND

Patellar tendon rupture (PTR) is extremely rare but serious complication after primary or revision total knee arthroplasty. Due to the serious failure rates of end-to-end repair techniques, various augmentation techniques have been described. In this study, the results of patients with PTR after reconstruction using our own technique with semitendinosus (ST) and gracilis tendons taken from the affected side were evaluated retrospectively.

METHODS

A total of 14 patients, whose diagnosis was made based on physical examination and clinical findings, and supported radiologically (ultrasonography), were included in the study. In these patients, reconstruction was performed using double-row repair technique with the ST and gracilis tendons. Active-passive knee joint range of motion, active knee extension loss, and the Caton-Deschamps index at preoperative and final follow-up visits were compared. Tegner-Lysholm knee score and Kujala score were used to evaluate functional results.

RESULTS

In 14 patients (8 women and 6 men) with a mean age of 68.1 years, the median time between injury and surgery was 6.6 weeks. In all patients, the rupture was in the distal part of the patellar tendon. While the median preoperative Caton-Deschamps index was 1.8, the postoperative median value was found to be 1.25 after an average follow-up of 3.8 years (P = .014). The median preoperative knee extension loss decreased from 25° to 5° postoperatively. Tegner-Lysholm knee score and Kujala score of the patients at their last follow-up were significantly increased (P < .01).

CONCLUSION

For PTR developing after total knee arthroplasty, the double-row reconstruction technique with ST and gracilis tendons is effective.

Bifocal rupture of the patellar tendon in TKA: Case report and review of the literature

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE

Rupture of the extensor apparatus is a serious complication that can occur in a prosthetic knee. Bifocal extensor ruptures are rare and even more uncommon in adults.

CASE PRESENTATION

We report the case of an obese, diabetic, and hypertensive patient who underwent total knee arthroplasty two weeks previously and was admitted following a fall from her height for a rupture of the patellar tendon with release of the sutures. An investigation revealed bifocal avulsion of the patellar tendon from its patellar and tibial insertion. The patient was treated with double lacing and anchoring at the patellar and tibial levels with wire cerclage.

CLINICAL DISCUSSION

Several factors contribute to tendon fragility: degenerative changes linked to age, general or local conditions, and surgical approaches for TKA. These abnormalities also affect the tendon's ability to heal and should suggest the inadequacy of simple repair without tendon augmentation using a plasty, an autograft, or an allograft.

CONCLUSION

The prognosis for patients with extensor tendon ruptures in the TKA (total knee arthroplasty) remains unclear, and in our case, this was exacerbated by the delay between prosthesis insertion and the incident and by the open nature of the lesion.