Patellar tendon rupture 3 years after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with a central one third bone-patellar tendon-bone graft

Use of the central one third bone-patellar tendon-bone autograft is an acce pted technique for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Patella r tendon rupture following ACL reconstruction is an acknowledged, although rarely reported, complication of this procedure. Of the limited patellar te ndon rupture cases reported in the literature, most are described early in the postoperative period. We present a case of late patellar tendon rupture more than 3 years after uneventful ACL reconstruction in a 32-year-old man .