The surgical treatment of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries dates back over 100 years from the present day [2022]. While open repair of the torn ACL was popularized in the early 1900s, the first ACL reconstructions utilized the fascia lata as a graft and other extra-articular stabilizing techniques. The first free tendon graft reported for ACL reconstructions was the quadriceps tendon (QT) in the 1930s, followed by the hamstrings tendon (HT), and then the patellar tendon. With improved understanding of the ACL anatomy and biomechanics and the invention of the arthroscope, ACL reconstruction evolved from open procedures to arthroscopic. Similarly, with the help of many surgeon-scientists who reported patient outcomes following ACL reconstruction with various techniques, graft choice evolved with the hamstrings and patellar tendon grafts becoming the dominant and preferred choice of both surgeons and patients. In present day, we see a resurgence of one of the original grafts reported, the QT, as well as primary ACL repair. Future research will result in continued advancements of ACL surgical techniques and graft harvesting, which will allow the orthopedic community (including patients and surgeons) to benefit from such innovations and advanced technologies.

UNASSIGNED: Rupture of the extensor apparatus is a serious complication that can occur in a prosthetic knee. Bifocal extensor ruptures are rare and even more uncommon in adults.
METHODS: We report the case of an obese, diabetic, and hypertensive patient who underwent total knee arthroplasty two weeks previously and was admitted following a fall from her height for a rupture of the patellar tendon with release of the sutures. An investigation revealed bifocal avulsion of the patellar tendon from its patellar and tibial insertion. The patient was treated with double lacing and anchoring at the patellar and tibial levels with wire cerclage.
UNASSIGNED: Several factors contribute to tendon fragility: degenerative changes linked to age, general or local conditions, and surgical approaches for TKA. These abnormalities also affect the tendon\'s ability to heal and should suggest the inadequacy of simple repair without tendon augmentation using a plasty, an autograft, or an allograft.
CONCLUSIONS: The prognosis for patients with extensor tendon ruptures in the TKA (total knee arthroplasty) remains unclear, and in our case, this was exacerbated by the delay between prosthesis insertion and the incident and by the open nature of the lesion.

To conduct a systematic review looking into the possibility of US imaging to anticipate and identify future patellar or Achilles tendinopathy symptoms.
The studies that were taken into consideration for this review were prospective studies that employed baseline US imaging of the patellar OR Achilles tendons in asymptomatic patients and follow-up measures of pain and/or function. Two impartial reviewers evaluated the study\'s quality using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme instrument.
Participants in the included studies in this review came from various sports. The systematic review revealed a link between baseline tendon abnormalities in the US and a higher chance of developing both patellar and Achilles tendinopathy as well as their future occurrence. Nine of the included studies examined the patellar tendon alone, eight the patellar and Achilles tendon together, and four the Achilles tendon exclusively. For both tendons, US administration is done in a largely consistent manner. The tendon abnormalities of tendon thickness, hypoechogenicity and vascularity at baseline were associated with an increased risk of both Achilles and patellar tendinopathy.
This systematic review shows that abnormal tendon structures seen by US in asymptomatic persons can predict the development of tendinopathy.

UNASSIGNED: To evaluate the impact various levels of irradiation have on bone-patellar tendon-bone (BTB) allograft load-to-failure.
UNASSIGNED: Pubmed, Google Scholar and Embase were searched for studies reporting load-to-failure measurements of BTB allografts following gamma or eBeam irradiation. All systematic reviews, editorials, as well as studies that utilized animal models and/or other graft sources (achilles, hamstring, quadriceps) were excluded. Meta-analysis was performed to compare the impact of low dose (19 ≤ kGy), intermediate (20-49 kGy) and high dose (>50 kGy) gamma and eBeam radiation on load-to-failure.
UNASSIGNED: Twelve studies, containing a total of 429 BTB allografts (159 controls, 270 irradiated), were identified. Load-to-failure of BTB allograft was significantly decreased at intermediate (20-49 kGy) doses of radiation, while low (≤19 kGy) and high (>50 kGy) doses did not significantly change load-to-failure.
UNASSIGNED: Intermediate doses of radiation may negatively impact the biomechanical integrity of BTB allograft in vitro. Future studies are required to examine clinical outcomes at varying irradiation levels.

UNASSIGNED: Existing systematic reviews have sought to characterize the relative donor-site morbidity of bone-patellar tendon-bone (BTB) and quadriceps tendon (QT) grafts after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). However, no studies have reported the pooled proportions of patellar fractures and donor tendon ruptures across the body of literature.
UNASSIGNED: To estimate the proportion of patellar fractures, patellar tendon ruptures, and QT ruptures associated with BTB or QT autograft harvest during ACLR using published data.
UNASSIGNED: Systematic review; Level of evidence, 4.
UNASSIGNED: A meta-analysis was conducted according to the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines using 3 online databases (PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science). A total of 800 manuscripts were included in the initial research of peer-reviewed articles in English that reported extensor mechanism complications associated with graft harvest in patients after ACLR. Pooled proportions of patellar fractures, patellar tendon ruptures, and QT ruptures were calculated for each graft type (BTB, QT) using a random-effects model for meta-analysis.
UNASSIGNED: A total of 28 studies were analyzed. The pooled proportion of patellar fractures was 0.57% (95% CI, 0.34%-0.91%) for the BTB harvest and 2.03% (95% CI, 0.78%-3.89%) for the QT harvest. The proportion of patellar tendon ruptures was 0.22% (95% CI, 0.14%-0.33%) after the BTB harvest, and the proportion of QT ruptures was 0.52% (95% CI, 0.06%-1.91%) after the QT harvest. The majority of included studies (16/28 [57.1%]) had an evidence level of 4.
UNASSIGNED: Based on the current literature, the proportion of extensor mechanism complications after ACLR using either a BTB or a QT autograft is low, indicating that the extensor mechanism harvest remains a safe option. A higher proportion of patellar fractures was noted for QT grafts and a higher proportion of donor tendon ruptures was noted for QT grafts compared with BTB grafts.

We reported 2 cases of patellar tendon rupture at the lower pole of the patella. For patellar tendon rupture, simple suture fixation has been proved to be inadequate in strength. Our center uses custom-made anchor-like plate and suture to treat proximal patellar fracture. The fixation strength is reliable, no additional bone tunnel is required, and the fixation of the lower patellar fracture can be achieved at the same time. After the operation, the patient starts functional exercise of the knee joint at an early stage, The function of the knee joint of the patient recovered well after 1 year, without other complications.

We present a case report of a 43-year-old male patient with simultaneous ruptured of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), patellar tendon (PT) and lateral meniscus tear, occurred during a tennis match. This combinate tear is not frequent, and literature reports only few cases. Clinical diagnosis can be difficult and the support of MRI and X-Ray is needed. Surgery was performed within seven days from injury in a one-step fashion. Clinical and radiological outcome treatment was successful.

BACKGROUND: Extensor mechanism rupture is a severe complication with an incidence of 0.1-2.5% after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Achilles tendon allograft (ATA) and extensor mechanism allograft (EMA) in TKA surgery have yielded mixed clinical results. Our systematic review aims to identify the proportion of failure in extensor mechanism reconstruction after TKA using allograft and evaluate clinical and functional outcomes and the most common complications. Furthermore, we performed a meta-analysis among studies dealing with isolated patellar tendon ruptures to assess the failure rate, surgical complications, and clinical findings (extensor lag and knee range of motion) of extensor mechanism reconstruction using either ATA or EMA grafts.
METHODS: A systematic review of the literature was performed following the PRISMA guidelines, including the studies dealing with the use of EMA and ATA for extensor mechanism rupture following TKA. Coleman Methodology Score and the MINORS score were used to assess the quality of the studies. A meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the failure rate, complications, and clinical findings (extensor lag and knee range of motion) of the ATA and EMA treatments in isolated patellar tendon ruptures.
RESULTS: A total of 238 patients (245 knees), with a mean age ranging from 54 to 74 years, who underwent extensor mechanism reconstruction with an allograft were identified in the 18 included studies. We analysed 166 patellar tendon ruptures, 29 quadriceps tendon ruptures, and 29 patellar fractures in the analysis. A chronic injury was described in the majority of included cases. ATA and whole EMA were used in 89 patients (92 knees) and 149 patients (153 knees), respectively. The overall failure percentage was 23%, while EMA and ATA were 23 and 24%. The most common complication was extensor lag (≥ 20°). The overall incidence of postoperative infection was 7%. Eleven of 14 included papers reported more than 100° of the mean postoperative knee flexion. The percentage of patients requiring walking aids is 55 and 34.5% in ATA and EMA, respectively. The failure outcome after extensor mechanism reconstruction in isolated patellar tendon ruptures was 27%, with no statistical difference between EMA and ATA in terms of failure rate and clinical outcomes.
CONCLUSIONS: Extensor mechanism reconstruction with allograft represents a valid treatment option in patients with acute or chronic rupture following total knee arthroplasty. Persistent extensor lag represents the most common complication. EMA is associated with a lower frequency of patients requiring walking aids at last follow-up, although it has similar clinical and functional outcomes to ATA. In patellar tendon ruptures, ATA has a comparable success rate with EMA.
METHODS: Level IV, therapeutic study.
BACKGROUND: PROSPERO 2019 CRD42019141574.

BACKGROUND: A lot of research addresses superiority of the two commonly used autografts bone-patellar tendon-bone (BPTB) and hamstring tendon for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction, without getting to consensus. While there are numerous studies and reviews on short- to mid-term follow-up, not much literature is available on long-term follow-up. As patients suffering ACL injuries are often of young age and high athletic activity, it is crucial to have the best evidence possible for graft choice to minimize consequences, like osteoarthritis later on.
METHODS: A search of the online databases, PubMed and Embase, was carried out last on 31st March 2022 for studies comparing BPTB and hamstring tendon (HT) autografts for ACL reconstruction in human patients with a minimum follow-up of 10 years. The methodological quality of each study has been evaluated using the modified Coleman Methodology Score. Results on the three variables patient-oriented outcomes, clinical testing and measurements and radiographic outcomes were gathered and are presented in this review.
RESULTS: Of 1299 records found, nine studies with a total of 1833 patients were identified and included in this systematic review. The methodological quality of the studies ranged from a Coleman Score of 63-88. Many studies reported no or only few statistically significant differences. Significant results in favour of BPTB were found for activity levels and for instrumented laxity testing with the KT-1000 arthrometer. Better outcomes for HT were found in IKDC-SKF, the KOOS, donor site morbidity, pivot shift test, radiographic osteoarthritis (IKDC C or D) and contralateral ACL rupture. No studies presented significant differences in terms of Lysholm Score or Tegner Activity Score, Lachman test, single-legged hop test, deficits in range of motion, osteoarthritis using the Kellgren and Lawrence classification or graft rupture.
CONCLUSIONS: We cannot recommend one graft to be superior, since both grafts show disadvantages in the long-term follow-up. Considering the limitation of our systematic review of no quantitative analysis, we cannot draw further conclusions from the many insignificant results presented by individual studies.
METHODS: IV.

UNASSIGNED: Transosseous tunnel (TO) repair is considered the gold standard for patellar tendon rupture; however, suture anchor (SA) repair has emerged as a viable alternative in recent years. Although both these techniques are used widely in clinical practice, the most biomechanically optimal construct for patellar tendon repair remains unknown.
UNASSIGNED: To examine published studies on the biomechanical properties of TO and SA fixation for patellar tendon repair in terms of ultimate load to failure and cyclic gap formation. The null hypothesis was that there would be no significant difference in either outcome measure between the groups.
UNASSIGNED: Systematic review.
UNASSIGNED: A systematic review using PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines was performed by searching PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and Embase to identify studies that analyzed the biomechanical properties of SA and TO techniques for repair of a ruptured patellar tendon. The search phrase implemented was \"patellar tendon repair.\" Meta-analysis was performed to provide a quantitative comparison of the 2 techniques with regard to ultimate load to failure and cyclic gap displacement. Weighted averages were calculated for all quantitative outcomes, and outcomes were summarized in a forest plot. A random-effects model was used to account for the heterogeneity among the included studies in the final statistical analysis.
UNASSIGNED: Of 875 studies initially screened, the inclusion criteria were met by 7 studies, including 128 cadaveric specimens (66 SA, 62 TO). The pooled analysis from 6 studies reporting on gap displacement revealed a statistically significant difference in favor of SA versus TO fixation (P < .001). Pooled analysis from 7 studies reporting on ultimate load to failure did not reveal a statistically significant difference between the use of SA and TO for tendon repair (P = .465).
UNASSIGNED: Our systematic review revealed that the use of SA fixation for patellar tendon repair was associated with lower cyclic gap displacement when compared with TO fixation. There was no significant difference in ultimate load to failure between the repair techniques.