Your tendons are powerful cords of fibrous tissue throughout your body which connect your muscles to your bones. In your knee, the patella tendon connects the top of your tibia (shin bone) to the base of your patella (kneecap) whilst the quadriceps tendon connects your patella to the quadriceps muscle.
Your quadriceps muscle, quadriceps tendon, and the patellar tendon must all work together for your leg to straighten and if any of these muscles, ligaments, or tendon attachments become strained, inflamed or tear, the result is pain and tenderness in the knee, bruising, cramping and/or a displaced kneecap.
Causes of a patellar tendon tear or injury
Your patellar tendon can be injured or torn during a knee dislocation, because of an injury, whilst playing sports, or because of a degenerative condition. Small tears in the tendon can make it difficult to perform daily activities, climb stairs or walk properly and a large tear can be immobilising, making it virtually impossible to walk which require surgery and physiotherapy.
Symptoms of a patellar tendon tear or injury
Pain is usually the first indicator of a patella tendon injury. Other symptoms include knee tenderness, bruising, cramping and difficulty walking. Some patients may see an indentation at the bottom of their kneecap which is usually the tendon rupture, as well as a displaced kneecap that moves easily as it is no longer anchored to the tibia.
Diagnosing patellar tendon injuries
To diagnose a patellar tendon tear, Dr Singh will obtain a thorough medical history, including information relating to previous injuries including a patellar tendinitis (a chronic, inflamed knee) diagnosis. A physical examination of your knee will also be performed to determine the exact cause of your symptoms and imaging tests such as an x-ray or MRI scan will be performed to establish if there is any tissue damage inside your knee also.
It is important to remember that many conditions can cause knee pain, so a correct diagnosis in consultation with Dr Singh is critical in determining the right treatment option for you.
Treating a patellar tendon tear
Treatment of patella tendon pain, tears and injuries will depend on the severity. Small tears in the tendon or tendinitis can be treated nonsurgical however most patients will require surgery to repair a torn tendon and restore knee function with outcomes generally better, if surgical repair occurs soon after the patella tendon tear.
Surgical treatment may include the repair of the patellar tendon, reattachment, or reconstruction, depending on the extent of injury. These treatment options can all be discussed in your consultation with Dr Singh.
