SERIAL ULTRASONOGRAPHIC IMAGING EVALUATION OF THE PATELLAR TENDON AFTER HARVESTING ITS CENTRAL-ONE-THIRD FOR ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT RECONSTRUCTION

The purpose of this study was to assess ultrasonographic image changes in the patellar tendon after removal of its central one third for ant erior cruciate Ligament reconstruction. Fourteen patellar tendons in 1 4 patients were assessed preoperatively and at 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 2 mon ths, 6 months, and 12 months postoperatively. With time, the entire do nor tendon became enlarged, hypoechoic, and inhomogeneous compared wit h the presurgical state. Tendons enlarged maximally in anteroposterior thickness by 2 months and then began to diminish, remaining two times their original anteroposterior thickness by 12 months and never retur ning to their preoperative appearance. The margins of the defect becam e indistinct over time. In the donor patellar tendon, abnormal echogen icity was profound and persisted up to 1 year after surgery. Ultrasono graphic imaging has the ability to evaluate the postoperative patellar tendon over time and to monitor the normal changes seen with healing.