Long-term Functional Outcomes After Primary Surgical Repair of Acute and Chronic Patellar Tendon Rupture: Series of 25 patients

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes after surgical repair of patellar tendon rupture (PTR) and compare the evolution of 2 types of rupture (acute and chronic) after the same rehabilitation protocol.

Methods: This was a prospective cohort study of patients with PTR treated between January 2006 and January 2014 in the department of trauma surgery, Ibn Rochd university hospital, Casablanca.

Results: We evaluated 25 patients (21 men) after a median follow-up of 75 months (range 29-120). The mean age was 34.7±8.59 years. Overall, 17 patients had acute rupture and 8 chronic rupture. Fifteen healthy volunteers (13 men) were recruited as a control group. Mean Knee Society Score (KSS) knee score was significantly higher after than before surgery (82.28±12.297 vs 20.64±7.6; P<0.0001) as was KSS function score (88.40±17.483 vs 23.40±8.98; P<0.0001). Pain measured on a visual analog scale was significantly lower after than before surgery (1.96±1.24 vs 6.60±1.26; P<0.0001). ROM and KSS knee and function scores were significantly lower on the operated than non-operated side after surgery. For both types of PTR, only knee extensor muscle strength was significantly lower on the operated than non-operated side and as compared with healthy volunteer knees.

Conclusions: Surgical repair of PTR with reinforcement and an early rehabilitation program demonstrate good results after a long follow-up. However, chronic PTR may need longer or a different rehabilitation protocol of the knee-extensor apparatus.