title: Extensor mechanism reconstruction with an allograft after total knee arthroplasty.
abstract: The authors report on a series of 15 knees in which an extensor mechanism allograft was used to treat a rupture of the patellar tendon associated with a total knee arthroplasty. Nine of the knees have greater than two-year follow-up evaluation (average, 4.1 years; range, 2.3-7 years). Postoperatively, the average flexion was 106 degrees. All but three patients achieved full passive extension. Six of the nine knees had no extensor lag. The average post-operative clinical score for the follow-up group was 78 points. Graft complications include one early graft rupture, one early quadriceps junction failure, and one patellar component loosening. One graft fractured after revision of a metal-backed patella.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas, Texas.
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Emerson
authors.forename: W C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Head
authors.forename: T I
authors.initials: TI
authors.lastname: Malinin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology; D007720:Knee Prosthesis; D008124:Locomotion; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000601:surgery; D017847:Patellar Ligament / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D011859:Radiography; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous