Biomechanical Comparison of Suture Anchor vs. Transosseous Tunnel Repair for Acute Quadriceps Tendon Rupture

Introduction Acute quadriceps tendon rupture is a relatively infrequent injury with serious consequences. The current gold standard for management of an acute quadriceps tendon rupture is surgical repair with suture through transosseous patellar bone tunnels. This repair has been successful, but can be a relatively time-consuming and labor intensive procedure, with potential complications including early or delayed patella fracture. Suture anchors have been used with excellent success for tendon repair in other joints. Despite the higher associated initial cost, this technique offers the potential benefit of decreased surgical exposure and soft tissue disruption, reduced operative time, and the potential for improved repair strength and decreased risk of patella fracture. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the biomechanical fixation strength of suture anchor versus “gold standard” transosseous tunnel quadriceps tendon repair.