Bilateral Patellar Tendon Rupture
Abstract:
A 42-year-old active duty male jumped to exit his truck wearing full body armor and weapons and felt a pop in his left knee. He then tried to hop on the other leg to the aid station and felt a similar pop in the opposite leg. The soldier was unable to walk, however, he tried crawling to obtain medical attention. Eventually friendly forces saw him in distress and took him to medical care out of harms way. At the medical facility plain radiographs were taken of both knees. On exam, there was swelling of the patellar tendons and a high riding patella bilaterally. The patient was evacuated to a higher echelon of care outside of Iraq for MRI and definitive treatment. Summary of Findings Plain AP and lateral radiographs were taken of both knees. Lateral radiographs showed patella alta, a high riding patella, bilaterally. A joint effusion was also noted. On MRI, disrupted patellar tendons were noted bilaterally.