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The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (American) 83:1382-1386 (2001)
© 2001 The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Inc.

Case Report

Atraumatic Bilateral Patellar Tendon Rupture

A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Peter S. Rose, BS and Frank J. Frassica, MD

Investigation performed at the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland
Peter S. Rose, BS
Frank J. Frassica, MD
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Johns Hopkins Hospital Outpatient Center, 601 North Caroline Street, Baltimore, MD 21287-0882. E-mail address for F.J. Frassica: ffrassic@welchlink.welch.jhu.edu. Please address requests for reprints to F.J. Frassica.

The authors did not receive grants or outside funding in support of theirresearch or preparation of this manuscript. They did not receivepayments or other benefits or a commitment or agreement toprovide such benefits from a commercial entity. No commercial entity paid or directed, or agreed to pay or direct, any benefits to anyresearch fund, foundation, educational institution, or other charitable or nonprofit organization with which the authors are affiliated or associated.


   Introduction
 
Traumatic rupture of the patellar tendon is the result of severe overloading of the extensor mechanism of the knee in young, athletic patients. In contrast, prior injection of steroids and a variety of systemic diseases are associated with an increased tendency to rupture with little or no trauma1,2. The rarity of bilateral patellar tendon rupture and the symmetry of the findings on physical examination may cause clinicians to miss the diagnosis.

We report a case of spontaneous bilateral patellar tendon rupture in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus. The patient was seen twice in the emergency department without the injury being recognized. This case highlights the potential difficulties in diagnosing atraumatic bilateral patellar tendon rupture.


   Case Report
 
A thirty-year-old woman with a sixteen-year history of systemic lupus erythematosus and recently diagnosed fibromyalgia was brought by ambulance to a local emergency department because of bilateral knee pain and an inability to bear . . . [Full Text of this Article]


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