Cross-sectional Outcome Analysis of Athletes With Chronic Patellar Tendinopathy Treated Surgically and by Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy

OBJECTIVETo compare the outcome of chronic patellar tendinopathy treated surgically and by extracorporeal shock wave therapy. DESIGNCross-sectional outcome analysis. SETTINGUniversity Hospital Pellenberg, Leuven, Belgium. PATIENTS AND INTERVENTIONSOf a total of 27 patients (28 knees) with chronic patellar tendinopathy, 13 were treated surgically, and 14 (15 knees) received extracorporeal shock wave therapy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTSFunctional outcome questionnaireVictorian Institute of Sport Assessment score, Visual Analog Scale, and Roles and Maudsley classification. RESULTSAt an average of 6 months of follow-up, the mean Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment and Visual Analog Scale scores for the extracorporeal shock wave therapy group were 78.8 ± 28.7 and 9 ± 2, respectively, which improved to 83.9 ± 28.6 and 9 ± 2, respectively, at 22.1 months. The surgery group scored 70.7 ± 22.2 points on the Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment at an average of 26.3 months of follow-up (p = 0.41 and p = 0.18) and 8 ± 3 on the Visual Analog Scale (p = 0.14). In the extracorporeal shock wave therapy group, 5 (33%) patients rated their pain status at 22.1 months as excellent, 5 (33%) as good, 2 (13%) as fair, and 2 (13%) as poor. In the surgery group, 4 (33%) evaluated the result as excellent, 3 (25%) as good, 3 (25%) as fair, and 2 as poor (17%). CONCLUSIONSExtracorporeal shock wave therapy shows a comparable functional outcome to surgery in a cross-sectional analysis of patients with chronic proximal patellar tendinopathy resistant to conservative treatment.