Surgical management of tendinopathy of the main body of the patellar tendon in athletes.
OBJECTIVE
To report the results of surgery for tendinopathy of the main body of the patellar tendon.


METHODS
Retrospective study.


METHODS
A teaching hospital of the University of London.


METHODS
Twenty-eight patients reviewed at an average follow-up of 42 months from surgery for tendinopathy of the main body of the patellar tendon after failed conservative treatment.


METHODS
Exploration of the affected patellar tendon, stripping of the paratenon, excision of pathological areas, and multiple longitudinal tenotomies.


METHODS
Postoperative complications, ability to return to sport, and subjective satisfaction, as measured by formal clinical assessment or telephone questionnaire.


RESULTS
At follow-up, 23 patients were completely free of pain and had resumed full sporting activity at the same preoperative level. Three patients were improved enough to have returned to their preoperative sporting level or just below it. In two patients, the initial operation failed. In the patients who resumed sport, the average time from surgery to resuming full sporting activity was 7 months (range 6 weeks to 12 months). The most common early postoperative complications were wound hematoma and superficial infection. The most common late complications were related to the incision, with anterior knee pain on kneeling and skin dysesthesia.


CONCLUSIONS
Surgical decompression of the patellar tendon with multiple longitudinal tenotomies is an effective treatment for patellar tendinopathy. In the middle term, patients do not seem to relapse once they have recovered, whereas those who do not respond to surgery do not recover at all and may need a new operation.
Maffulli
N
N
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Aberdeen Medical School, Scotland.
Binfield
P M
PM
Leach
W J
WJ
King
J B
JB
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000379:methods; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010329:Patella / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013708:Tendon Injuries; D013710:Tendons / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome