Objective  To investigate effectiveness of a improved technique for perforation of patella combined with suture anchor and non-tourniquet for repairing acute rupture of the bone tendon junction of quadriceps tendon. Methods  Between June 2010 and June 2016, 15 patients with acute rupture of the bone tendon junction of quadriceps tendon were treated with the improved technique for perforation of patella combined with suture anchor and non-tourniquet. Of them, 14 were male and 1 was female, aged from 19 to 74 years (mean, 44 years). Seven cases were sports injuries, 5 cases were caused by slipping, and 3 cases were caused by violent trauma. The duration of quadriceps tendon rupture ranged from 3 hours to 3 days (median, 2 days). The right side was involved in 9 cases, and the left side in 6 cases. All of the cases were closed injuries. The patients had no sequelae of limb dysfunction and no limb joint surgery in the past. All the patients received anteroposterior and lateral X-ray films of the knee joint and patella axial films during follow-up. Knee function of the patients after operation was evaluated by Lysholm scoring system and Kujala scoring system. Results  The operation time was 50-60 minutes (mean, 55 minutes). The intraoperative blood loss was 50-150 mL, with an average of 87 mL. Primary healing of incision was obtained in all patients without complications. All patients were followed up 12-24 months (mean, 18 months). At 1 year after operation, the knee joint function of all patients recovered well; the knee Lysholm score was 92-96, with an average of 94 and the patellofemoral joint Kujala score was 90-95, with an average of 93. There was no re-rupture of quadriceps tendon or loosening of internal fixation during follow-up. According to the lateral and axial X-ray films at 1 year after operation, the patella depth index, femur trochlea depth, sulcus angle, and Insall-Salvati index were 3.62-4.09 (mean, 3.84), 4.45-6.50 (mean, 5.56), 137-145° (mean, 142°), and 0.90-1.18 (mean, 1.06). The lateral patellofemoral angle increased, and the patellar tilt angle and the patella lateral shift distance reduced, all showing significant differences when compared with preoperative ones (P<0.05). Conclusion  The improved technique for perforation of patella combined with suture anchor and non-tourniquet for repairing acute rupture of the bone tendon junction of quadriceps tendon can reconstruct a stable patellofemoral joint, increase the strength of fixing, disperse stress effectively and evenly, and increase the area for tendon-bone healing.

Citation： WU Gouzhong. Improved technique for perforation of patella combined with suture anchor and non-tourniquet for repairing acute rupture of the bone tendon junction of quadriceps tendon. Chinese Journal of Reparative and Reconstructive Surgery, 2017, 31(12): 1428-1433. doi: 10.7507/1002-1892.201707044 Copy