title: Cross-sectional outcome analysis of athletes with chronic patellar tendinopathy treated surgically and by extracorporeal shock wave therapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the outcome of chronic patellar tendinopathy treated surgically and by extracorporeal shock wave therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional outcome analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  University Hospital Pellenberg, Leuven, Belgium.
  
  
  METHODS
  Of a total of 27 patients (28 knees) with chronic patellar tendinopathy, 13 were treated surgically, and 14 (15 knees) received extracorporeal shock wave therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Functional outcome questionnaire: Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment score, Visual Analog Scale, and Roles and Maudsley classification.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At an average of 6 months of follow-up, the mean Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment and Visual Analog Scale scores for the extracorporeal shock wave therapy group were 78.8 +/- 28.7 and 9 +/- 2, respectively, which improved to 83.9 +/- 28.6 and 9 +/- 2, respectively, at 22.1 months. The surgery group scored 70.7 +/- 22.2 points on the Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment at an average of 26.3 months of follow-up (p = 0.41 and p = 0.18) and 8 +/- 3 on the Visual Analog Scale (p = 0.14). In the extracorporeal shock wave therapy group, 5 (33%) patients rated their pain status at 22.1 months as excellent, 5 (33%) as good, 2 (13%) as fair, and 2 (13%) as poor. In the surgery group, 4 (33%) evaluated the result as excellent, 3 (25%) as good, 3 (25%) as fair, and 2 as poor (17%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Extracorporeal shock wave therapy shows a comparable functional outcome to surgery in a cross-sectional analysis of patients with chronic proximal patellar tendinopathy resistant to conservative treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University Hospital Pellenberg, Leuven, Belgium. koen.peers@uz.kuleuven.ac.be
authors.forename: Koen H E
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Peers
authors.forename: Roeland J J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Lysens
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Brys
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bellemans
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D012090:Cumulative Trauma Disorders / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D019220:High-Energy Shock Waves / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D052256:Tendinopathy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome