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Patellar Tendon Length is Associated with Lower Extremity Length but Not Gender

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Abstract

Background

The aim of this study was to evaluate the patellar tendon length (PTL) with focus on gender differences and possible correlations with the total leg length (TLL) and the long bones of the lower extremity.

Materials and Methods

The sample involved 50 paired lower extremities from human adult cadavers. The TLL was measured between the medial malleolus and the apex of the greater trochanter. The femoral length (FL) was evaluated as the interval between the latter and the distal margin of the lateral epicondyle of the femur and the tibial length (TL) from the distal apex of the medial malleolus to the proximal border of the medial condyle of the tibia. The PTL was measured from the apex of the patella to its proximal insertion point at the tibial tuberosity.

Results

The PTL was at a mean length of 4.29 ± 0.49 cm (right side) and 4.20 ± 0.55 cm (left side) in females and 4.42 ± 0.53 cm (right) and 4.32 ± 0.55 cm (left) in males. There were no differences regarding gender (p = .412). The left PTL was significantly shorter in both sexes (p = .022). The PTL correlated positively with FL, TL, and TLL in both sexes and sides.

Conclusion

PTL correlates significantly positively with size without gender differences.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 5, 8036, Graz, Austria

    Gloria M. Hohenberger, Gerald Gruber, Ines Vielgut & Patrick Sadoghi

  2. Institute of Anatomy, Medical University of Graz, Harrachgasse 21, 8010, Graz, Austria

    Manuel Dreu

  3. Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 2, 8036, Graz, Austria

    Harald Kreuzthaler

  4. Institute for Medical Informatics, Statistics and Documentation, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 2, 8036, Graz, Austria

    Regina Riedl

  5. AUVA Trauma Hospital Graz, Göstinger Straße 24, 8020, Graz, Austria

    Angelika Schwarz

  6. Department of Trauma Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria

    Harald Widhalm

Authors
  1. Gloria M. Hohenberger
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  2. Manuel Dreu
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  3. Harald Kreuzthaler
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  4. Gerald Gruber
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  5. Regina Riedl
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  6. Angelika Schwarz
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  7. Ines Vielgut
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  8. Harald Widhalm
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  9. Patrick Sadoghi
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Contributions

GMH: protocol development; data collection; manuscript writing. MD: protocol development; data collection; manuscript editing. HK: data collection; manuscript editing. GG: data collection; manuscript editing. RR: data analysis; manuscript editing. AS: data collection; manuscript editing. IV: data collection; manuscript editing. HW: data analysis; manuscript editing. PS: protocol development; manuscript writing and editing.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gerald Gruber.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by the any of the authors.

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Hohenberger, G.M., Dreu, M., Kreuzthaler, H. et al. Patellar Tendon Length is Associated with Lower Extremity Length but Not Gender. JOIO 54, 352–357 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43465-020-00046-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s43465-020-00046-1

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