Clinical and biomechanical outcomes following patellar tendon repair with suture tape augmentation

• Published in: European journal of orthopaedic surgery & traumatology 2023-12, Vol.33 (8), p.3569-3576
• Main Authors: Hinz, Maximilian, Geyer, Stephanie, Winden, Felix, Braunsperger, Alexander, Kreuzpointner, Florian, Irger, Markus, Imhoff, Andreas B., Mehl, Julian
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Activities of Daily Living; Adult; Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries - surgery; Female; Humans; Injuries; Knee; Knee Injuries - surgery; Knee Joint; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Original Article; Pain; Patellar Ligament - injuries; Patellar Ligament - surgery; Patient satisfaction; Quality of Life; Retrospective Studies; Return to Sport; Surgical Orthopedics; Sutures; Tendon Injuries - surgery; Trauma; Traumatic Surgery; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 1432-1068; 1633-8065; 1432-1068
• DOI: 10.1007/s00590-023-03572-4

Purpose Patellar tendon ruptures (PTR) occur predominantly in middle-aged patients following indirect trauma. The aim of this study was to quantify the short-term results using a suture tape augmentation technique for the repair of PTR. Methods All consecutive patients with acute ( 20%) knee extension strength deficit when compared to the contralateral side. Results A total of 7 patients (mean age 37.0 ± SD 13.5 years; 6 male/1 female) were available for final assessment at a median follow-up of 17.0 (25–75% IQR 16.0–77.0) months. Three injuries occurred during ball sports, two injuries occurred during winter sports, and one injury each occurred during a motorcycling and skateboarding accident. The average time between trauma and surgery was 4.7 ± 2.6 days. At follow-up, patients reported little pain (VAS: 0 [0–0.4]). Return to sport was possible for all patients 8.9 ± 4.0 months postoperatively at a high level (TAS: 7.0 [6.0–7.0]). Five patients (71.4%) returned to the preinjury level of play, and 2 (28.6%) did not return to the preinjury level of play. Patient-reported outcome measures were moderate to good (Lysholm score: 80.4 ± 14.5; IKDC: 84.2 ± 10.6; KOOS subscales: pain 95.6 ± 6.0, symptoms 81.1 [64.9–89.1], activities of daily living 98.5 [94.1–100], sport and recreation function 82.9 ± 14.1 and knee-related quality of life 75.9 ± 16.3). All patients were very satisfied (57.1%) or satisfied (42.9%) with the postoperative result. No postoperative complications were reported. Strength measurements revealed a severe knee extension deficit in 3 patients (42.9%), but no significant deficit of isometric knee extension or flexion strength in comparison with the contralateral side was observed overall ( p > 0.05). Conclusion Sut