title: Traumatic bilateral rupture of the patellar tendon in an apparently healthy patient.
abstract: We present a case of a 37 year old male who suffered a fall from approximately 2.5 meters; at the moment of impact he performed a bilateral knee hyperflexion. The presumptive clinical diagnosis was bilateral rupture of patellar tendon. In order to confirm the diagnosis, we performed bilateral anteroposterior and lateral radiographies and bilateral echography of the knee. Laboratory tests were performed as routine before surgery in order to determine if the patient had any systemic conditions; all data was in normal range. We performed end to end suture of the tendon and we secured the suture with Dall-Miles cables through the patella and the tubercle of the tibia. Bilateral rupture of the patellar tendon is rather uncommon and is usually associated with systemic diseases. The case presentation is important because the bilateral patellar tendon rupture due to minimum trauma has no explanation--the patient was young, with no genetic disorders and no systemic diseases. Literature mentions a little over 20 cases of bilateral patellar tendon rupture in individuals with no diseases previous to the injury.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics and Trauma, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iasi, Romania. ovidiu_alexa@yahoo.com
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Alexa
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cozma
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls; D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures; D017847:Patellar Ligament / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011859:Radiography; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous / Q000601:surgery; D013536:Suture Techniques; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography