Patellar Tendon Length is Associated with Lower Extremity Length but Not Gender

Gloria M Hohenberger; Manuel Dreu; Harald Kreuzthaler; Gerald Gruber; Regina Riedl; Angelika Schwarz; Ines Vielgut; Harald Widhalm; Patrick Sadoghi

doi:10.1007/s43465-020-00046-1

Patellar Tendon Length is Associated with Lower Extremity Length but Not Gender

Indian J Orthop. 2020 Jan 31;54(3):352-357. doi: 10.1007/s43465-020-00046-1. eCollection 2020 May.

Authors

Gloria M Hohenberger¹, Manuel Dreu², Harald Kreuzthaler³, Gerald Gruber¹, Regina Riedl⁴, Angelika Schwarz⁵, Ines Vielgut¹, Harald Widhalm⁶, Patrick Sadoghi¹

Affiliations

¹ 1Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 5, 8036 Graz, Austria.
² 2Institute of Anatomy, Medical University of Graz, Harrachgasse 21, 8010 Graz, Austria.
³ 3Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 2, 8036 Graz, Austria.
⁴ 4Institute for Medical Informatics, Statistics and Documentation, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 2, 8036 Graz, Austria.
⁵ AUVA Trauma Hospital Graz, Göstinger Straße 24, 8020 Graz, Austria.
⁶ 6Department of Trauma Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria.

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the patellar tendon length (PTL) with focus on gender differences and possible correlations with the total leg length (TLL) and the long bones of the lower extremity.

Materials and methods: The sample involved 50 paired lower extremities from human adult cadavers. The TLL was measured between the medial malleolus and the apex of the greater trochanter. The femoral length (FL) was evaluated as the interval between the latter and the distal margin of the lateral epicondyle of the femur and the tibial length (TL) from the distal apex of the medial malleolus to the proximal border of the medial condyle of the tibia. The PTL was measured from the apex of the patella to its proximal insertion point at the tibial tuberosity.

Results: The PTL was at a mean length of 4.29 ± 0.49 cm (right side) and 4.20 ± 0.55 cm (left side) in females and 4.42 ± 0.53 cm (right) and 4.32 ± 0.55 cm (left) in males. There were no differences regarding gender (p = .412). The left PTL was significantly shorter in both sexes (p = .022). The PTL correlated positively with FL, TL, and TLL in both sexes and sides.

Conclusion: PTL correlates significantly positively with size without gender differences.

Keywords: Patella; Patellar dislocation; Patellar tendon length; Patellofemoral instability.