Association between patella spurs and quadriceps tendon ruptures.
BACKGROUND
quadriceps tendon (QT) ruptures are significant injuries that are relatively uncommon. The diagnosis of QT ruptures is frequently missed or delayed. An association between the presence of a patella spur and QT ruptures has been suggested in the literature.


METHODS
the Hospital Inpatient Enquiry system was used to gather data on all patients who sustained a QT rupture over a six year period from 2008 to 2014. A retrospective review of the medical notes as well as radiographs was undertaken. We reviewed 200 knee radiographs of patients without QT ruptures to establish the incidence of patella spurs in our normal population. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 11.5 for Windows(®).


RESULTS
the records of 20 consecutive patients with 21 QT ruptures were reviewed. The mean age was 60.9 yrs (range 44.9-82.1 yrs) and the majority were male (n=17; 85%). There was one bilateral QT ruptures. Patella spurs were noted in 13 cases (62%) which were significantly higher than in patients without QT rupture 19% (P≤0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
we noted a significantly higher incidence of patella spurs in patients with QT ruptures compared to those without. The presence of a QT rupture should be ruled out in patients with a knee injury and a patella spur on the knee radiographs.
Department of Orthopaedics, St James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
Prasad
P
Ellanti
Department of Orthopaedics, St James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
Andrew
A
Moriarity
Department of Orthopaedics, St James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
Nikita
N
Wainberg
Department of Orthopaedics, St James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
Cliodhna Ni
CN
Fhoghlu
Department of Orthopaedics, St James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
Tom
T
McCarthy
injury; knee; patella spur; quadriceps tendon; ruptures