Les tendinopathies de la pointe de la rotule : traitement arthroscopique versus traitement à ciel ouvert

The surgical treatments of patellar tendonitis is known for good results, in spite of a long rehabilitation program. The arthroscopic treatments have been developped in order to improve the results of surgery, by reducing the time frame of rehabilitation and by reducing the postoperative complications. The purpose of the present study was to compare the outcomes of the arthroscopic treatment and those of the surgical treatment by open procedure, in case of recalcitrant patellar tendonitis. The design of the study was retrospective and comparative, including patients operated for a recalcitrant patellar tendonitis. Twenty patients were included, who were of 32.3 years old on average. Ten patients had an open procedure (group 1) and 10 had an arthroscopyically-assisted treatment (group 2). The average follow-up was 29 months, ranging from four months to nine years and eight months. The rate of the clinical assessment, according to the Blazina and Leeadbetter's classifications, decreased regularly from the three months postoperative revision to the last follow-up. The patients of groups 1 and 2 were able to go back to their sports activities more regularly, ranging from 1.7 hours a week at three months postoperative to 6.4 hours a week at the last follow-up. There was no significant difference between the group 1 and 2 during the follow-up, concerning the results of surgery and recovery after rehabilitation.