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Challenges in postoperative rehabilitation of chronic patellar tendon rupture following delayed surgical reconstruction: a case report.

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Title: Challenges in postoperative rehabilitation of chronic patellar tendon rupture following delayed surgical reconstruction: a case report.
Authors: Espinoza-Otárola, Cristopher1 (AUTHOR), Arias-Álvarez, Gonzalo2 (AUTHOR), Guede-Rojas, Francisco3 (AUTHOR), Velásquez, Edison4 (AUTHOR), Carvajal-Parodi, Claudio5 (AUTHOR) claudio.carvajal@uss.cl
Source: Postgraduate Medicine. Jun2026, Vol. 138 Issue 5, p495-506. 12p.
Subject Terms: Patellar tendon, Rehabilitation, Surgical complications, Sociology, Patellar ligament injuries, Magnetic resonance imaging, Knee injuries, Plastic surgery
Abstract: Background: Chronic patellar tendon rupture (CPTR) represents a rare but disabling injury that presents major surgical and rehabilitative challenges, especially when diagnosis and repair are delayed. Case presentation: This case describes a 33-year-old male who sustained a right knee injury during recreational sport that remained untreated for 12 months. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirmed CPTR with marked retraction and patella alta. Surgical reconstruction using a semitendinosus-gracilis autograft was followed by a six-month, phase-based rehabilitation program emphasizing protected mobility, progressive strengthening, and neuromuscular control. Throughout supervised sessions, the patient achieved clinically meaningful but partial functional improvement: pain decreased from VAS 6 to zero, and KOOS subscales improved relative to baseline values. Although postoperative MRI revealed partial graft rupture, residual laxity, and persistent patellar elevation, the patient regained independent ambulation, reported high satisfaction, and demonstrated a residual extension lag of 5–10°. Conclusion: This case underscores the complex relationship between structural imaging findings and functional recovery following delayed CPTR reconstruction, illustrating that partial functional improvement may coexist with persistent structural abnormalities. Additionally, socioeconomic barriers that delayed access to specialized care significantly shaped the recovery trajectory, reinforcing the importance of early diagnosis and integrated rehabilitation strategies in complex extensor-mechanism injuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Postgraduate Medicine is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Education Research Complete
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  Availability: 0
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DbLabel: Education Research Complete
An: 194898522
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
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  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Challenges in postoperative rehabilitation of chronic patellar tendon rupture following delayed surgical reconstruction: a case report.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Espinoza-Otárola%2C+Cristopher%22">Espinoza-Otárola, Cristopher</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Arias-Álvarez%2C+Gonzalo%22">Arias-Álvarez, Gonzalo</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Guede-Rojas%2C+Francisco%22">Guede-Rojas, Francisco</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Velásquez%2C+Edison%22">Velásquez, Edison</searchLink><relatesTo>4</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Carvajal-Parodi%2C+Claudio%22">Carvajal-Parodi, Claudio</searchLink><relatesTo>5</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> claudio.carvajal@uss.cl</i>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Postgraduate+Medicine%22">Postgraduate Medicine</searchLink>. Jun2026, Vol. 138 Issue 5, p495-506. 12p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subject Terms
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Patellar+tendon%22">Patellar tendon</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Rehabilitation%22">Rehabilitation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Surgical+complications%22">Surgical complications</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sociology%22">Sociology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Patellar+ligament+injuries%22">Patellar ligament injuries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Magnetic+resonance+imaging%22">Magnetic resonance imaging</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Knee+injuries%22">Knee injuries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Plastic+surgery%22">Plastic surgery</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Background: Chronic patellar tendon rupture (CPTR) represents a rare but disabling injury that presents major surgical and rehabilitative challenges, especially when diagnosis and repair are delayed. Case presentation: This case describes a 33-year-old male who sustained a right knee injury during recreational sport that remained untreated for 12 months. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirmed CPTR with marked retraction and patella alta. Surgical reconstruction using a semitendinosus-gracilis autograft was followed by a six-month, phase-based rehabilitation program emphasizing protected mobility, progressive strengthening, and neuromuscular control. Throughout supervised sessions, the patient achieved clinically meaningful but partial functional improvement: pain decreased from VAS 6 to zero, and KOOS subscales improved relative to baseline values. Although postoperative MRI revealed partial graft rupture, residual laxity, and persistent patellar elevation, the patient regained independent ambulation, reported high satisfaction, and demonstrated a residual extension lag of 5–10°. Conclusion: This case underscores the complex relationship between structural imaging findings and functional recovery following delayed CPTR reconstruction, illustrating that partial functional improvement may coexist with persistent structural abnormalities. Additionally, socioeconomic barriers that delayed access to specialized care significantly shaped the recovery trajectory, reinforcing the importance of early diagnosis and integrated rehabilitation strategies in complex extensor-mechanism injuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Postgraduate Medicine is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=ehh&AN=194898522
RecordInfo BibRecord:
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      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1080/00325481.2026.2686464
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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        PageCount: 12
        StartPage: 495
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Patellar tendon
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Rehabilitation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Surgical complications
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Sociology
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      – SubjectFull: Patellar ligament injuries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Magnetic resonance imaging
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Knee injuries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Plastic surgery
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Challenges in postoperative rehabilitation of chronic patellar tendon rupture following delayed surgical reconstruction: a case report.
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            NameFull: Espinoza-Otárola, Cristopher
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            NameFull: Arias-Álvarez, Gonzalo
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            NameFull: Velásquez, Edison
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            – D: 01
              M: 06
              Text: Jun2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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              Value: 138
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