Patellar Tendon Repair With Gracilis Autograft Augmentation and Anchor Fixation

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Patellar tendon rupture is a severe knee injury requiring surgical repair.
• Primary suture repair may be insufficient for poor tissue quality or high mechanical demand.
• Graft augmentation can enhance repair stability and biological support.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a reproducible technique for augmenting patellar tendon repair with a doubled gracilis autograft.
• To present a suture-anchor-only fixation method that avoids patellar transosseous tunnels.
• To offer an alternative reinforcement strategy for patellar tendon ruptures.

Main Methods:

• A doubled gracilis autograft was used to augment primary patellar tendon repair.
• Suture-anchor fixation was exclusively employed, eliminating the need for bone tunnels.
• The graft was positioned along the medial and lateral borders of the patellar tendon.

Main Results:

• The described technique provides a mechanically robust and biologically supported construct.
• This method preserves patellar integrity by avoiding transosseous tunnels.
• The gracilis autograft offers favorable handling, adequate strength, and low donor-site morbidity.

Conclusions:

• Augmentation with a doubled gracilis autograft using suture anchors is a viable alternative for patellar tendon repair.
• This technique enhances initial construct stability and provides biological reinforcement.
• It offers a reproducible and effective solution for cases requiring additional support beyond primary repair.