The Journal of Trauma: Injury, Infection, and Critical Care · 1994 · 61 citations · 0 references
MedicineOrthopaedic SurgeryOrthopedic SurgeryOrthopedic RehabilitationOrthopedicsWound HealingKnee InjuriesTendon InjuriesTendon RepairTendon SurgeryAcute TraumaNeutralizationPatellar Tendon InjuryPatellar Tendon RupturePrimary Surgical RepairPrimary Tendon RepairTendon Rupture ManagementTendon Rupture Repair
Thirty-five patients with traumatic patellar tendon ruptures treated with primary repair and with a neutralization wire were retrospectively reviewed. All the ruptures occurred in acute trauma; 12 of the patients (34%) had multiple injuries, and 19 had open wounds around the kinee joints. The diagnostic clues included a high-riding patella by palpation or seen on roentgenograms, hemarthrosis, a palpable gap over the tendon, and inability of patients of extend the knee actively. Using the criteria of Siwek and Rao, at follow-up 57% of outcomes were rated as excellent; 28.6% as good; and 14.2% as unsatisfactory. None of the 35 patients had a rerupture of the tendon. We conclude that primary repair with a neutralization wire can be a treatment of choice for traumatic patellar tendon ruptures.