SHORTENING OF THE PATELLAR TENDON AFTER ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT RECONSTRUCTION

In this prospective study, patellar height changes were investigated a fter anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction with a mean follo w-up of 22.4 months. A total of 114 patients were included. Fifty-two patients (group A) were treated by multiple suture repair, 27 patients (group B) underwent acute ACL reconstruction, and 35 patients (group C) underwent ACL reconstruction greater than or equal to 6 weeks after injury with a patellar tendon graft. The patellar vertical height rat ios (VHR) were evaluated preoperatively (VHR 1), 6 months postoperativ ely (VHR 2), and at follow-up (VHR 3). For the studied questions, the following answers were obtained: (1) The change of the patella height was the same in all three groups (i.e., disregarding the different sur gical procedures). (2) The time elapsed between injury and ACL reconst ruction did not influence the shortening of the patellar tendon. (3) W omen showed a more pronounced shortening of the patellar tendon than d id men. (4) A significant shortening of the patellar tendon occurred i n 30% of our patients, and the process of shortening was finished 6 mo nths postoperatively. (5) Anterior knee pain was present in 27.2% of o ur patients and occurred significantly more often after patellar tendo n graftings. (6) Age had no influence on the changes of the patellar h eight.