title: Patella tendon length after patella arthroplasty.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The study aimed to assess tendon length change following patello-femoral replacement (PFR) surgery and total knee replacement (TKR).
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis was conducted of 40 patients undergoing PFR surgery and 40 patients undergoing TKR and an unoperated control group. Immediate preoperative radiographs were compared with those at 1 year postoperatively. Intra/inter-observer error was assessed in four observers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the unoperated patients the mean shortening was 0.6% (range 6% shortening to 3% lengthening). The mean shortening after PFR surgery was 0.1% of shortening (range 14% shortening to 11% lengthening). The mean shortening after TKR was 7.14% (range 25% shortening to 7% lengthening).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Shortening of the patella tendon after PFR surgery occurs infrequently and less severely compared with TKR.
  
  
  METHODS
  Level 2 prognostic study.
authors: Orthopaedic Library, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bristol BS28HW, UK. clarkdamian@hotmail.com
authors: Damian
authors: D
authors: Clark
authors: Vipul
authors: V
authors: Mandalia
authors: Andrew
authors: A
authors: Hughes
authors: Steven
authors: S
authors: Mitchell
authors: Atanu
authors: A
authors: Bhattacharjee
authors: Jonathan
authors: J
authors: Eldridge
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009929:Organ Size; D010329:Patella / Q000601:surgery*; D017847:Patellar Ligament / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies