A new method of repair for quadriceps tendon ruptures. A case report

Rupture of the quadriceps tendon is an uncommon injury observed predominantly in subjects over 40 years old. Multiple surgical techniques have been employed to repair fresh and neglected ruptures; methods that make use of allograft and augmentation with tissues harvested from around the knee have been reported. We describe a case of surgical repair of a tendon-bone junction rupture in a 64-year-old patient by use of suture anchors to attach the tendon to bone and improve fixation of the soft tissue elements. Clinical diagnosis of rupture was confirmed radiographically and echographically. Surgical repair was performed within 24 hours of injury. Active movement of the knee started after 3 weeks and the patient was permitted to walk without weight-bearing with a knee cage. Three weeks later, he was permitted to walk with full weight-bearing unassisted by crutches; the knee cage was removed 6 weeks after surgery. At his most recent follow-up 24 months postoperative, quadriceps strength was equal to that of the controlateral knee and the patient has returned to sports and daily activities. The surgical method presented here provides a suture of the tendon ends without putting excess stress on the suture line during the period of early knee mobilization. Advantages over other techniques include reduced operative time, easy access to the implantation site, and better resistance of the suture material: the patient is thus able to initiate physical therapy earlier and more aggressively.