title: Reconstruction of a ruptured patellar tendon using ipsilateral semitendinosus and gracilis tendons with preserved distal insertions: two case reports.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Acute patellar tendon ruptures with poor tissue quality. Ruptures that have been neglected are difficult to repair. Several surgical techniques for the repair of the patellar tendon have been reported, however, these techniques remain difficult because of contractures, adhesions, and atrophy of the quadriceps muscle after surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report the cases of 2 Japanese patients (Case 1: a 16-year-old male and Case 2: a 43-year-old male) with patellar tendon ruptures who were treated by reconstruction using semitendinosus-gracilis (STG) tendons with preserved distal insertions. Retaining the original insertion of the STG appears to preserve its viability and provide the revascularization necessary to accelerate healing. Both tendons were placed in front of the patella, in a figure-of-eight fashion, providing stability to the patella.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both patients recovered near normal strength and stability of the patellar tendon as well as restoration of function after the operation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Juntendo University School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyou-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan. takayuuji@aol.com.
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takazawa
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ikeda
authors.forename: Muneaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ishijima
authors.forename: Mitsuaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kubota
authors.forename: Yoshitomo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Saita
authors.forename: Haruka
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kaneko
authors.forename: Yohei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Ryo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sadatsuki
authors.forename: Shinnosuke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hada
authors.forename: Kazuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kaneko
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D017888:Medial Collateral Ligament, Knee / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D017847:Patellar Ligament / Q000098:blood supply / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012421:Rupture / Q000601:surgery*