The ultrasound appearance of the patellar tendon attachment to the tibia in young athletes is conditional on gender and pubertal stage

Abstract This cross-sectional study investigated the imaging appearance of the patellar tendon attachment to the tibia in young male and female tennis players of different ages and pubertal status. Forty-four competitive young players, who had been playing tennis at least for 2 years, were recruited...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of science and medicine in sport 2010-01, Vol.13 (1), p.20-23
Main Authors: Ducher, Gaele, Cook, Jill, Lammers, Greg, Coombs, Peter, Ptazsnik, Ron, Black, Jeni, Bass, Shona L
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Age Distribution
Analysis of Variance
Athletes
Australia - epidemiology
Child
Children & youth
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Growth spurt
Humans
Knee
Male
Medical imaging
Osgood–Schlatter disease
Osteochondrosis - diagnostic imaging
Osteochondrosis - epidemiology
Patellar Ligament - diagnostic imaging
Patellar tendon
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Puberty
Sex Distribution
Sports Medicine
Tendons
Tennis
Tibia
Ultrasonography
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Summary:Abstract This cross-sectional study investigated the imaging appearance of the patellar tendon attachment to the tibia in young male and female tennis players of different ages and pubertal status. Forty-four competitive young players, who had been playing tennis at least for 2 years, were recruited from a tennis school and local tennis clubs. All subjects had bilateral ultrasound imaging of the patellar tendon attachment to the tibia. Standard anthropometric measurements, pubertal status and injury history were recorded. Ultrasound appearance of the patellar tendon attachment was categorised into three stages: cartilage attachment, insertional cartilage and mature attachment. Cartilage attachment was more prevalent in boys (32%) and extended further into puberty (until Tanner stage 4) compared to girls (6% and Tanner stage 1). Tendons with Osgood–Schlatter Disease symptoms ( n = 3) did not have a cartilage attachment. Imaging appearance commonly seen in young active athletes, consistent with a clinical diagnosis of OSD, was more common in boys and in the pre- and peri-pubertal stages.
ISSN:1440-2440
1878-1861
DOI:10.1016/j.jsams.2009.03.003