Biomechanical studies have shown the use of
suture anchors (SA) to be superior to the traditional transosseous
sutures (TS) in the repair of quadriceps tendon
rupture (QTR). This study aimed to analyze and compare the functional outcomes of patients treated for quadriceps tendon
ruptures using
suture anchors or transosseous
sutures. Patients having undergone
suture anchor repair or transosseous
suture repair for quadriceps tendon
rupture between 2010 and 2015 at one of the two participating hospitals were included. Patients from site A underwent TS repair (TS group) while patients from site B underwent SA repair (SA group). Exclusion criteria included previous or concomitant
injuries of the involved knee, penetrating
injuries and pre-existing neurological conditions. Clinical outcome was assessed by subjective scores (Lysholm and Tegner Scores, International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) Score, Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for
pain), quadriceps isokinetic strength testing, Insall-Salvati Index (ISI), and physical examination. Non-parametrical statistical analysis was conducted using the Mann-Whitney U test. Twenty-seven patients were included in the study of which 17 patients (63%) were available for follow-up (SA group: 9, TS group: 8). All patients were male with a mean age of 62.7 (SD: 8.8) and 57.9 (SD: 12.7) years for the SA group and TS group, respectively. The groups did not differ in terms of demographic characteristics. No clinically significant differences were identified between the two groups. There were no re-
ruptures in either group. Treatment of quadriceps tendon
rupture using
suture anchors provides a clinically valid alternative treatment to the gold-standard transosseous
suture repair.