Abstract
Case report In the presented case, an isolated vastus lateralis tendon tear resulted in a negative pennation angle of the distal muscle fibers acting paradoxical to the physiological direction of the proximal muscle fibers. This observation makes the value of an in situ repair of a far retracted tendon tear with interposition of a graft questionable and emphasizes early over late anatomic surgical restoration of the muscle architecture after tendon tears.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aagaard P, Andersen JL, Dyhre-Poulsen P et al (2001) A mechanism for increased contractile strength of human pennate muscle in response to strength training: changes in muscle architecture. J Physiol 534:613–623
Bleakney R, Maffulli N (2002) Ultrasound changes to intramuscular architecture of the quadriceps following intramedullary nailing. J Sports Med Phys Fitness 42:120–125
Fabis J, Kordek P, Bogucki A et al (1998) Function of the rabbit supraspinatus muscle after detachment of its tendon from the greater tubercle. Observations up to 6 months. Acta Orthop Scand 69:570–574
Gerber C, Meyer DC, Frey E et al (2009) Neer award 2007: reversion of structural muscle changes caused by chronic rotator cuff tears using continuous musculotendinous traction. An experimental study in sheep. J Shoulder Elbow Surg 18:163–171
Gerber C, Meyer DC, Schneeberger AG et al (2004) Effect of tendon release and delayed repair on the structure of the muscles of the rotator cuff: an experimental study in sheep. J Bone Joint Surg Am 86-A:1973–1982
Gerber C, Schneeberger AG, Hoppeler H et al (2007) Correlation of atrophy and fatty infiltration on strength and integrity of rotator cuff repairs: a study in thirteen patients. J Shoulder Elbow Surg 16:691–696
Gerber C, Schneeberger AG, Perren SM et al (1999) Experimental rotator cuff repair. A preliminary study. J Bone Joint Surg Am 81:1281–1290
Goutallier D, Postel JM, Bernageau J et al (1995) Fatty infiltration of disrupted rotator cuff muscles. Rev Rhum Engl Ed 62:415–422
Goutallier D, Postel JM, Bernageau J et al (1994) Fatty muscle degeneration in cuff ruptures. Pre- and postoperative evaluation by CT scan. Clin Orthop Relat Res 304:78–83
Goutallier D, Postel JM, Bernageau J et al (1995) La dégéneresence graisseuse des muscles des coiffes tendineuses rompues de l’épaule. Revue du rhumatisme, Ed francaise 62:439–446
Kawakami Y, Abe T, Fukunaga T (1993) Muscle-fiber pennation angles are greater in hypertrophied than in normal muscles. J Appl Physiol 74:2740–2744
Maganaris CN (2001) Force-length characteristics of in vivo human skeletal muscle. Acta Physiol Scand 172:279–285
Meyer DC, Hoppeler H, von Rechenberg B et al (2004) A pathomechanical concept explains muscle loss and fatty muscular changes following surgical tendon release. J Orthop Res 22:1004–1007
Meyer DC, Lajtai G, von Rechenberg B et al (2006) Tendon retracts more than muscle in experimental chronic tears of the rotator cuff. J Bone Joint Surg Br 88:1533–1538
Rutherford OM, Jones DA (1992) Measurement of fibre pennation using ultrasound in the human quadriceps in vivo. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol 65:433–437
Winter SL, Challis JH (2010) The expression of the skeletal muscle force-length relationship in vivo: a simulation study. J Theor Biol 262:634–643
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Meyer, D.C., Gerber, C. & Farshad, M. Negative muscle pennation angle as a sign of massive musculotendinous retraction after tendon tear: paradoxical function of the vastus lateralis muscle. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 19, 1536–1539 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-011-1488-y
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-011-1488-y