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Histologic analysis of ruptured quadriceps tendons

  • Knee
  • Published:
Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy Aims and scope

Abstract

Quadriceps tendon ruptures are uncommon injuries. Degenerative changes in the tendon are felt to be an important precondition for rupture. We retrospectively reviewed 45 quadriceps tendon ruptures in 42 patients. Quadriceps tendon ruptures occurred most often in the sixth and seventh decade of life. Men were affected six times as often as women. A tissue sample from the rupture-zone was obtained in 22 cases and histologic analysis was performed. Degenerative changes were present in only 14 (64%) of the 22 samples. We observed an increasing ratio of degenerative to nondegenerative tendons with increasing patient age. Our data suggests that quadriceps tendon rupture, especially in younger patients, can occur in the absence of pathologic tendon degeneration.

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Acknowledgments

We like to thank Michaela Rockenstiehl from the Pathologic Department, Eberhard-Karls Universitaet Tuebingen, Germany, for the histologic images.

Conflict of interest statement

All authors disclose any financial and personal relationships with other people, or organisations, that could inappropriately influence (bias) this work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. BG-Traumacenter, Eberhard-Karls University Tuebingen, Schnarrenbergstr. 95, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany

    Per David Trobisch, Matthias Bauman, Kuno Weise & Fabian Stuby

  2. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Eberhard-Karls University Tuebingen, Hoppe-Seyler-Str. 3, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany

    Per David Trobisch

  3. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Denver Health Medical Center, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver, CO, 80204, USA

    David J. Hak

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  1. Per David Trobisch
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  2. Matthias Bauman
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  3. Kuno Weise
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  4. Fabian Stuby
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  5. David J. Hak
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Correspondence to Per David Trobisch.

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Trobisch, P.D., Bauman, M., Weise, K. et al. Histologic analysis of ruptured quadriceps tendons. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 18, 85–88 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-009-0884-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-009-0884-z

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