Patellar tendon tear
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Definition/Description[edit | edit source]
A patellar tendon tear can be partial or complete.
A partial patellar tendon tear means that the soft tissue will not be completely disrupted. Some fibers are torn.
A complete patellar tendon tear means a total separation between the patellar tendon and the kneecap.
When a tear is caused by a medical condition, like tendonitis, the tendon usually tears in the middle.
Clinically Relevant Anatomy[edit | edit source]
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Epidemiology /Etiology[edit | edit source]
Injury
A patellar tendon rupture can be caused by a sudden contraction of the quadriceps against resistance.
When a strong force affects the knee, a tear can arise. This can happen when movements like jumping, falling, weight lifting,… are performed. It’s most common that a tear arises when the knee is bent and the foot planted on the floor, f.e. when a basketball player lands of a jump. A tear can also arises by the great impact to the front of the knee by a fall.
Surgery
There’s a higher risk for a tear when a previous major knee surgery is done, like a total knee arthroplasty and an anterior cruciate ligament construction with central one third patellar tendon autograft.4
Tendon weakness
Caused by:
- Patellar tendonitis 4 (Link 1)
- Chronic diseases like chronic renal failure, hyper betalipoproteinemia, rheumatoid arthritis (Link 2), systemic lupus erythmatosus (SLE) (Link 3), diabetes mellitus (Link 4), infection.1
- Steroid injections2
- Tendon calcification2
- Collagen disorders2
- Fatty tendon degeneration2
- Metabolic disorders2
Characteristics/Clinical Presentation[edit | edit source]
The following symptoms are typical for someone with a patellar tendon tear:
- The patient is unable to continue activity 4
- The patient can’t resume weightbearing or does so only with assistance 4
- An indentation at the bottom of your kneecap where the tendon tore.1
- Bruising1
- Cramping1
- Tenderness
- A proximally displaced patella, because it’s no longer anchored to your shinbone 4
- Incomplete extensor function
- Walking will be difficult, due to the knee buckling or giving way 1
- Hemarthrosis 4
Sometimes people can feel a tearing or popping sensation, followed by pain and swelling.1
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