• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Call Today! (954) 491-7758

PATIENT PORTAL

  • Home
  • Meet the Team
    • Kevin J. Kessler, MD
    • Adam Lipman, MD
    • Naveed Shafi, MD
    • Christine M. Kinsey, PA-C
  • Sports Medicine & Joint Replacement
    • Knee
    • Shoulder
    • Elbow
    • Wrist
    • Ankle
    • Neck & Back
    • Hip
    • Physical Therapy
    • On-Site Services
  • Contact Us
    • Locations & Phone
    • Office Hours
    • Medical Emergencies
    • After Hours Urgent Medical Needs
    • Insurance / Payment / Billing
    • Referrals
    • Hospital & Surgery Center Affiliations
    • Prescription Requests

Patellar Tendon Tear

Back to Patient Education
  • Introduction
  • Anatomy
  • Causes
  • Symptoms
  • Diagnosis
  • Treatment
  • Surgery
  • Recovery

Introduction

The patellar tendon connects the kneecap to the leg.  During sports that involve running or jumping or because of tendonitis, certain medical conditions, or steroid use, the tendon can tear.  Small partial tears may heal with non-surgical treatment; however, most patellar tendon tears require surgery followed by physical therapy rehabilitation.
Back to top

Anatomy

The knee is composed of three bones.  The thighbone (femur), sits on the larger leg bone (tibia).  The kneecap (patella) glides in a groove on the end of the femur.  The upper portion of the patellar tendon attaches at the lower side of the kneecap.  The lower portion attaches near the top of the tibia (anterior tibial tubercle). Tendons are strong tissues that connect muscles to bones. The patellar tendon plays a role in holding the kneecap in place and straightening the knee.
Back to top

Causes

The patellar tendon can tear completely or partially.  Complete patellar tendon tears tend to detach at the kneecap.  Such injuries occur from a strong impact to the knee or during sports that require running or jumping. 

Partial tendon tears usually occur in the middle of the tendon, because of patellar tendonitis, chronic disease, or steroid use.  Weak or inflamed tendons are more likely to tear.  Patella tendon tears happen more often in middle-aged people. 
Back to top

Symptoms

You may have a popping sensation when the patellar tendon tears, followed by pain and swelling.  Your kneecap may appear higher than usual.  Other symptoms of a patellar tendon tear include: 

• Knee Bruising
• Knee Cramping
• Knee Buckling
• Difficulty Walking
• Inability to Straighten the Knee
Back to top

Diagnosis

A doctor diagnoses a patellar tendon tear by reviewing your history, examining the knee, and conducting medical imaging tests.  Your doctor may order X-Rays or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans to provide views of the knee bones and soft tissues to confirm the diagnosis. 
Back to top

Treatment

Orthopedic surgeons treat patellar tendon tears on a case-by-case basis.  The type of treatment that you receive depends on several factors, including your age and activity level, as well as the size and type of tendon tear.  Some very small tears are treated non-surgically.  You may wear a knee immobilizer and use crutches for three to six weeks.  A physical therapist will first teach you exercises to strengthen the muscles (quadriceps) that straighten the knee.  Your physical therapist will increase your exercise regime as you heal.
Back to top

Surgery

Most people with patellar tendon tears require surgery to reattach the tendon to the kneecap.  Surgery to repair a torn patellar tendon usually requires an overnight inpatient stay, although it may be performed as an outpatient surgery, depending on the circumstances.  Patellar tendon surgery is performed with regional (spinal) anesthesia or general anesthesia. 

To begin, the orthopedic surgeon makes an incision over the kneecap.  The patellar tendon is reattached to the kneecap with sutures or surgical hardware.  The surgeon carefully checks the kneecap position and tendon tension.
Back to top

Recovery

Your doctor will prescribe pain medication and recommend ice following surgery.  You will wear a brace or cast and use crutches at first, gradually increasing the amount of weight that you put on your foot. 

As you heal, physical therapists will teach you strengthening exercises.  You will gradually be able to bend your knee, per your doctor's instructions.  Complete recovery can take 6 to 12 months, depending on the extent of injury and surgery.
Back to top

Copyright ©  - iHealthSpot Interactive - www.iHealthSpot.com

This information is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It should not be used in place of an individual consultation or examination or replace the advice of your health care professional and should not be relied upon to determine diagnosis or course of treatment.

The iHealthSpot patient education library was written collaboratively by the iHealthSpot editorial team which includes Senior Medical Authors Dr. Mary Car-Blanchard, OTD/OTR/L and Valerie K. Clark, and the following editorial advisors: Steve Meadows, MD, Ernie F. Soto, DDS, Ronald J. Glatzer, MD, Jonathan Rosenberg, MD, Christopher M. Nolte, MD, David Applebaum, MD, Jonathan M. Tarrash, MD, and Paula Soto, RN/BSN. This content complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information. The library commenced development on September 1, 2005 with the latest update/addition on February 16, 2022. For information on iHealthSpot’s other services including medical website design, visit www.iHealthSpot.com.

Footer

PATIENT EDUCATION

Let us empower you in your health journey by providing you with resources to better understand your conditions.

LEARN MORE

Home Sports Medicine & Joint Replacement Contact Us Patient Education ADA Disclaimer HIPAA Privacy Policy Sitemap

Copyright © · Kessler Lipman Orthopedics · All Rights Reserved

800 East Cypress Creek Rd., Ste 304
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33334

2900 N Military Trail, #230
Boca Raton, FL 33431

iHealthspot Medical Website Design and Medical Marketing by iHealthSpot.com

At Kessler Lipman Orthopedics, our surgeons specialize in treatment of joint pain, fracture, overuse injury, arthritis, sprain, strain, tendonitis from sports-related injury, auto accident or chronic orthopedic condition.  We offer on-site x-ray, splinting, casting, PRP therapy (platelet rich plasma therapy), steroid injections, blood draw and physical therapy to help you save time and get back to your favorite activities.  Our doctors have advanced training in joint replacement, rotator cuff tear, knee ligament repair, arthroscopy and other minimally invasive orthopedic surgery procedures.  Doctors throughout Palm Beach County and Broward County refer their patients to our orthopedic and sports medicine specialists for sciatica, herniated disc, stress fracture, degenerative disc disease, muscle spasm, whiplash, shin splints, carpal tunnel syndrome, Tennis or Golfer's elbow, shoulder instability, frozen shoulder, patellar tendon rupture or other bone and joint disorders. We serve patients visiting South Florida and the Florida Keys and those living and working in Broward County and Palm Beach County, FL.