Spontaneous bilateral rupture of patellar ligament

Abstract

We present the case of a 44-year-old patient with spontaneous bilateral ruptures of the proximal part of the patellar ligament. There were no identified specific risk factors for tendon ruptures. The diagnosis of bilateral patellar tendon rupture was confirmed in the initial physical examination with unambiguous x-ray diagnosis of patella alta. The second day after the injury, the patient underwent bilateral reinsertion of the rupture with transosseous suture (FiberWire) through tunnels in patella, together with the protection of the primary repairs using cerclage wires. Due to re-rupture of the patella ligament of the right knee two weeks later, revision procedure was carried out. That consisted of resuture of the tendon by the original method and augmentation using the semitendinosus and gracilis tendons. Postoperatively, both knees were fixed in orthoses for 12 weeks, flexion to 60° was allowed after 6 weeks, and flexion beyond 90° after 9 weeks. After one year from injury, the patient had an active bilateral full extension. The range of the right knee flexion was 125° and 130° on the left. The range of the right knee flexion was 125° and 130° on the left. The patient subjectively felt his right knee to be more stable. The clinical results of surgical treatment of the bilateral rupture ligamentum patellae tendons depend on early surgical intervention and post-operative rehabilitation. Augmentation of the tendon with autograft, allograft, or synthetic materials is indicated in the case of re-ruptures, late sutures and in cases of deficient quality of the tendon. We found no similar case described either in the Slovak or Czech literature.