Patellar socket technique for chronic quadriceps tendon repair: maximizing graft efficiency.

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Sports Medicine
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Chronic quadriceps tendon ruptures (CQTR) often involve significant tissue loss, making direct repair challenging.
• Traditional surgical methods for CQTRs carry risks of patellar fracture due to large graft requirements and deep tunnels.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present and evaluate a new surgical technique for CQTR reconstruction.
• The technique utilizes an ipsilateral semitendinosus (ST) autograft with proximal patellar socket fixation and Endobutton® closure.
• Aims to minimize graft wastage and reduce the risk of patellar fractures.

Main Methods:

• Harvesting and reinforcing the ipsilateral ST autograft with FiberWire®-2 sutures.
• Creating a proximal patellar socket with three cavities to accommodate the graft thickness.
• Securing the graft using Endobutton® fixation and reinforcing the native tendon with FiberWire®-5 Krakow sutures.

Main Results:

• The technique successfully restores extensor mechanism function in patients with CQTRs.
• It minimizes the need for extensive grafts and reduces stress on the patella.
• Offers a safe and reliable alternative to traditional transosseous techniques.

Conclusions:

• The proximal patellar socket technique is an effective method for reconstructing chronic quadriceps tendon ruptures.
• This approach minimizes graft requirements and patellar stress, enhancing surgical safety.
• It provides a reliable alternative for restoring extensor mechanism function in complex cases.