title: EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDY ON TENDON RUPTURES OF THE KNEE EXTENSOR MECHANISM AT A LEVEL 1 HOSPITAL.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the present study was to review the epidemiological aspects of tendon ruptures of the knee extensor apparatus at a level 1 hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively analyzed 76 lesions of the knee extensor apparatus that were treated surgically at the Miguel Couto Municipal Hospital between March 2004 and March 2011. We took into consideration age, sex, trauma mechanism, anatomical classification of the lesion, affected side, comorbidities and associated lesions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the patients studied, 68 were male and the mean age was 36 years. Regarding the trauma mechanism, 62 lesions occurred due to direct trauma; the right side was affected in 21 cases; eight presented comorbidities and four presented associated lesions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The majority of the patients were male, at an economically active age (young people), and were victims of direct trauma. Ruptures of the patellar ligament were the most frequent lesions. Associated lesions were rare and comorbidities were infrequent in our sample.
authors.affiliation: Master's degree and Doctor's degree in Medicine; Coordinator, Knee Surgery Department, Professor Nova Monteiro Orthopedics and Traumatology Clinic, Hospital Municipal Miguel Couto (SOT-HMMC) - Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rodrigo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pires E Albuquerque
authors.affiliation: Collaborating doctor at the SOT-HMMC - Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Juliano
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Prado
authors.affiliation: Collaborating doctor at the SOT-HMMC - Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hara
authors.affiliation: Collaborating doctor at the SOT-HMMC - Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Evaldo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.affiliation: Collaborating doctor at the SOT-HMMC - Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Leonardo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Schiavo
authors.affiliation: Master's degree in Medicine; Coordinator, Medical Residency Program of the SOT-HMMC - Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Giordano
authors.affiliation: Master's degree in Medicine; Head of the SOT-HMMC - Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ney Pecegueiro do
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Amaral
authors.affiliation: Master's degree and Doctor's degree in Medicine; Head, Orthopedics Clinic, Santa Casa da Misericórdia do Rio de Janeiro - Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: João Mauricio
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Barretto
keywords: Epidemiology; Knee; Rupture