- Case report
- Open Access
- Open Peer Review
Patellar tendon ossification after partial patellectomy: a case report
https://doi.org/10.1186/1752-1947-4-47
© Cakici et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2010
- Received: 15 January 2009
- Accepted: 9 February 2010
- Published: 9 February 2010
Abstract
Introduction
Patellar tendon ossification is a rare pathology that may be seen as a complication after sleeve fractures of the tibial tuberosity, total patellectomy during arthroplasty, intramedullary nailing of tibial fractures, anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with patellar tendon autograft and knee injury without fracture. However, its occurrence after partial patellectomy surgery has never been reported in the literature.
Case presentation
We present the case of a 35-year-old Turkish man with a comminuted inferior patellar pole fracture that was treated with partial patellectomy. During the follow-up period, his patellar tendon healed with ossification and then ruptured from the inferior attachment to the tibial tubercle. The ossification was excised and the tendon was subsequently repaired.
Conclusion
To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of patellar tendon ossification occurring after partial patellectomy. Orthopaedic surgeons are thus cautioned to be conscious of this rare complication after partial patellectomy.
Keywords
- Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction
- Patellar Tendon
- Intramedullary Nailing
- Tibial Tubercle
- Tibial Fracture
Introduction
Patellar tendon ossification is a rare occurrence. Whenever reported, it is usually associated with conditions such as conservatively treated sleeve fractures of tibial tuberosity [1], total patellectomy during arthroplasty [2], intramedullary nailing of tibial fractures [3], anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with patellar tendon autograft [4], and knee injury without fracture [5].
We report here a case of comminuted displaced inferior pole fracture of the patella that was treated with partial patellectomy. During the follow-up period the patellar tendon healed with ossification. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported clinical case of patellar tendon ossification occurring after partial patellectomy. The purpose of this report is to point out this rare complication of patellar tendon rupture.
Case presentation
Preoperative radiograph of the patient.
Postoperative lateral radiograph of the patient.
Extensive heterotopic ossification of the patellar tendon.
Postoperative lateral radiograph of the patient.
Clinical picture of the patient five years after the operation showing the degree of active knee flexion.
Discussion
The ideal treatment of inferior pole fractures of the patella remains a controversial issue. The options include internal fixation of the pole fragment and resection of the avulsed fragment with repair of the patellar tendon to the patella [6]. In experimental studies [7, 8], enlargement of the remaining patella and patellar tendon calcification after partial patellectomy were demonstrated in rabbits at about 24 weeks after surgeries were performed on them.
However, in clinical studies where the results of partial patellectomy were reported, incidences of extensive patellar tendon ossification were not detected [9, 10]. Saltzman et al. [9] reported that patellar length and the area of retained fragment were found to be enlarged in varying degrees in some patients. They concluded that this was different from the calcification or ossification phenomenon that could be seen at the extensor mechanism after a total patellectomy or the development of an osseous spur where the patellar tendon was reattached.
In our patient, the tendon was ruptured neither from the repaired bone-tendon junction nor throughout the length of the ossified tendon, but rather from an unexpected part, which is the tibial tubercle. An explanation for this may be the contraction of the quadriceps muscle that led to the rupture at the distal, weaker, nonossified ligamentous part of the ossified tendon. Cerclage wire might put additional pressure on the distal attachment of the tendon that was supplementing the rupture.
The only other report of ossified patellar tendon rupture to be found in the literature was by Yoon et al. [11] who described a case in which the ossified tendon ruptured in a z-like fashion from the proximal medial aspect to the distal lateral aspect. This differs from our patient's condition in that he had a prior partial patellectomy and the ossified tendon avulsed completely from its insertion into the tibial tubercle alone.
Conclusion
Surgeons must be cautious about patellar tendon ossification after partial patellectomy because this can lead to patellar tendon rupture.
Consent
Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this case report and any accompanying images. A copy of the written consent is available for review by the Editor-in-Chief of this journal.
Declarations
Authors’ Affiliations
References
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