Simultaneous acute rupture of the patellar tendon and the anterior cruciate ligament

Abstract

We present 3 cases of simultaneous rupture of the patellar tendon and the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and discuss the diagnosis and treatment of this infrequent association. Between 1997 and 2000, 3 patients with a mean age of 37 years were treated with an ACL reconstruction and repair of the patellar tendon. The average follow-up was 3 years. Two of them were initially misdiagnosed. At follow-up, all patients had stable knees and the average Lysholm score was 95. In acute knee injuries with gross anteroposterior instability and a huge hematoma, the occurrence of this complex lesion should be considered. A careful clinical evaluation may be correlated with magnetic resonance imaging findings to provide the orthopaedic surgeon with the appropriate information for planning the timing and surgical treatment.