A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY OF 100 ATHLETES WITH JUMPERS KNEE MANAGED CONSERVATIVELY AND SURGICALLY

Objectives-Jumper's knee causes significant morbidity in athletes of a ll standards. However, there are few reference data on the clinical co urse of this condition in a large number of patients, and the aim of t his study was to rectify this. Methods-A retrospective study of the co urse of jumper's knee in 100 athletes who presented to a sports medici ne clinic over a nine year period was carried out. Subjects completed a questionnaire designed to collect details of sport participation, sy mptoms, and time out of sport. Ultrasonographic results were recorded from the radiologists' reports. Histopathological results were obtaine d for patients who had surgery. Results-Forty eight subjects recalled that symptoms of jumper's knee began before the age of 20 years. Sympt oms prevented 33 from participating in sport for more than six months, and 18 of these were sidelined for more than 12 months. Forty nine of the subjects had two or more separate episodes of symptoms. Ultrasono graphy showed a characteristic hypoechoic region at the junction of th e inferior pole of the patella and the deep surface of the patellar te ndon. Histopathological examination showed separation and disruption o f collagen fibres on polarisation light microscopy and an increase in mucoid ground substance consistent with damage of tendon collagen with out inflammation. Conclusions-Jumper's knee has the potential to be a debilitating condition for a sports person. About 33% of athletes pres enting to a sports medicine clinic with jumper's knee were unable to r eturn to sport for more than six months.