BACKGROUND According to the literature, closing and opening wedge high tibial valgus osteotomies can raise or lower the patella, and diffèrent methods of patella height measurement show similarly conflicting results. Clarification of this was thought to be important because there is much literature describing morbidity secondary to patella alta or patella infera (baja). Effects on tibial slope ...

Patellar tendon rupture is a rare, but major event that often requires surgical repair in order to reestablish function of the extensor mechanism of the knee. Rupture of the tendon usually occurs in the 3rd or 4th decade of life and results from slip and fall accidents, or powerful contraction of the quadriceps such as during sporting events or weight lifting [1-3]. Anterior Cruciate Ligament (...

Extensor mechanism injuries are unusual and require early operative intervention to optimally restore extensor mechanism continuity, strength, and function. Quadriceps tendon ruptures typically occur in patients older than 40 years and can be associated with degenerative tendon changes, obesity, systemic illnesses, and trauma. Patellar tendon ruptures are usually seen in younger patients as a r...

This was a retrospective review of the nine open wedge high tibial osteotomy (HTO) done in a regional hospital in Hong Kong from 2006 to 2008. The mechanical hip-knee-ankle angle improved from average 169.5°(164°-175°) to average 183.9° (179°-187°). Patellar descent was noted in all patients postoperatively, with Blackburne-Peel (BP) index significantly changing from 0.78 (0.64-0.93) to 0.59 (0...

We compared the biological characteristics of extrinsic fibroblasts infiltrating the patellar tendon with those of normal, intrinsic fibroblasts in the normal tendon in vitro. Infiltrative fibroblasts were isolated from the patellar tendons of rabbits six weeks after an in situ freeze-thaw treatment which killed the intrinsic fibroblasts. These intrinsic cells were also isolated from the patell...

The present study investigated the mechanical properties of tendon fascicles from the anterior and posterior human patellar tendon. Collagen fascicles from the anterior and posterior human patellar tendon in healthy young men (mean +/- SD, 29.0 +/- 4.6 yr, n = 6) were tested in a mechanical rig. A stereoscopic microscope equipped with a digital camera recorded elongation. The fascicles were pre...

PURPOSE Risk factors associated with a clinical presentation of patellar tendinopathy are patellar tendon ultrasonographic abnormality (PTA) and excessive loading. It remains unknown whether characteristics of an athlete's landing technique contribute to this excessive patellar tendon loading. This study investigated whether asymptomatic athletes with and without PTA had different landing strat...

BACKGROUND Single-incision anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with a bone-patellar tendon-bone construct is commonly performed with 180 degrees rotation of the graft. It has been hypothesized that further rotation of the graft to 540 degrees can effectively shorten the graft to address graft length-tunnel mismatch. Initial biomechanical failure characteristics of rotated constructs have ...

The present study aimed to determine whether distinct sets of tendon properties are seen in athletes engaged in sports with contrasting requirements for tendon function and structural integrity. Patellar and Achilles tendon morphology and force-deformation relation were measured by combining ultrasonography, electromyography and dynamometry in elite ski jumpers, distance runners, water polo pla...

Nineteen consecutive patients undergoing anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using the central third of the ipsilateral patellar tendon were included in the study. Serial magnetic resonance images revealed that the donor-site gap in the tendon decreased with time (mean follow-up, 26 months). The thickness was significantly increased compared with the intact contralateral patellar tendon, ...