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Patellar tendonitis and anterior knee pain.
Z A Duri1, P M Aichroth, R Wilkins
1Wellington Knee Surgery Unit, the Wellington Hospital, London, England.
The American Journal of Knee Surgery
|May 14, 1999
Summary
Patellar tendonitis, or jumper's knee, causes anterior knee pain. This review of 40 patients found 70% had good results with conservative treatment, but 30% needed surgery.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Sports Medicine
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Patellar tendonitis, commonly known as "jumper's knee," is a frequent cause of anterior knee pain.
- Despite its prevalence, the natural history, classification, and optimal treatment strategies for patellar tendonitis remain subjects of debate.
- Anterior knee pain encompasses a spectrum of conditions, with patellar tendon involvement being a key component.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the etiology, presentation, clinical findings, and outcomes of conservative treatment for patellar tendonitis.
- To introduce a new classification system for patellar tendon involvement, categorizing it as primary or secondary.
- To correlate treatment planning with patient presentation, MRI findings, and specific patellar tendon pathology.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective review of 40 patients (50 knees) diagnosed with various stages of patellar tendonitis.
- Analysis of patient demographics, medical history (including Osgood-Schlatter disease and prior anterior knee pain), and clinical presentation.
- Evaluation of treatment outcomes, distinguishing between conservative management and surgical interventions.
Main Results:
- The study population comprised 29 men and 11 women aged 17-48 years, with 10 patients experiencing bilateral involvement.
- Overall treatment outcomes showed 70% of patients achieving normal or near-normal results, while 30% had abnormal or very abnormal results, often necessitating surgical intervention.
- A significant percentage of patients (37%) reported a history of anterior knee pain, with 25% having Osgood-Schlatter disease and 12.5% experiencing prior anterior knee pain.
Conclusions:
- Conservative treatment yielded favorable outcomes in a majority of patellar tendonitis cases.
- A substantial minority of patients with patellar tendonitis required surgical management, including arthroscopy and patellar tendon exploration.
- A proposed new classification system for patellar tendonitis, based on presentation and imaging, aims to guide more targeted treatment strategies.