Total bilateral ruptures of the knee extensor apparatus

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Sports Medicine
• Musculoskeletal Research

Background:

• Bilateral extensor tendon ruptures of the knee are uncommon, with limited data available from case reports or small studies.
• Understanding the characteristics and outcomes of these injuries is crucial for effective patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the clinical and radiographic outcomes of patients with bilateral knee extensor tendon ruptures.
• To identify common injury patterns, risk factors, and functional results following surgical intervention.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of seven patients with 14 bilateral knee extensor tendon ruptures underwent clinical and radiographic assessment at least one year post-surgery.
• Statistical significance was determined using a p-value of 0.05.

Main Results:

• Patellar tendon ruptures (64.29%) were more frequent than quadriceps tendon ruptures (35.71%).
• Intrasubstance tears were most common (57.15%). Risk factors like disease and drug use were prevalent.
• Patients reported residual pain and quadriceps weakness; younger patients experienced more pain.

Conclusions:

• Bilateral extensor tendon ruptures are rare, serious injuries associated with significant risk factors.
• Despite residual symptoms, early surgical repair and intensive rehabilitation offer satisfactory medium- to long-term functional outcomes.