Abstract

The clinical results of 31 knees in 29 patients treated surgically for patellar tendinitis were reviewed. All patients suffered from stage 3 patellar tendinitis according to Roels et al., resistant to conservative treatment. A longitudinal strip of patellar tendon containing the pathologic tissue was resected in all cases without a bony procedure. Minimum follow-up time was 3 years (ranging from 3 to 6 years). The results were very good in 26 knees, good in 1 knee and poor in 4 knees. Persistent patellofemoral pain was considered the most important cause leading to a poor result. When patellofemoral pain due to maltracking is associated with patellar tendinitis, it seems logical that both pathologies should be addressed during surgical treatment.