Allograft Reconstruction of a Chronic Quadriceps Tendon Rupture with Use of a Novel Technique.

Abstract

Chronic ruptures of the quadriceps tendon are uncommon injuries, most frequently seen in patients over the age of forty1. The mechanism of injury is often a slip and a fall, either on a flat surface or on stairs1. It can also be associated with underlying medical conditions, such as gout or diabetes mellitus2. More than half of these patients generally are not able to return to their preinjury recreational activities, and many are not able to return to their preinjury occupation1. The results after chronic or recurrent ruptures are worse, primarily caused by tendon retraction that leads to a gap between the tendon and patella; in these cases, a V-Y advancement or allograft reconstruction is generally necessary3. We present a novel technique with use of an Achilles tendon allograft with bone block fixation, which we believe provides superior fixation in cases of chronic or recurrent quadriceps tendon ruptures. An Achilles tendon-bone block allograft is commonly used for reconstruction of the patellar tendon, in which case the bone block is fitted into the proximal aspect of the tibia4. However, to our knowledge, the placement of an Achilles tendon bone block into the patella for quadriceps tendon reconstruction previously has not been reported in the literature. The patient was informed that data concerning the case …