The patella tendon attaches the bottom of the kneecap to the top of the shinbone (tibia). The quadricep tendon attaches the quadriceps muscles to the patella (kneecap). Either of these tendons can tear or rupture, fully or partially detaching from the bone. A surgery to repair the tendon and reattach it to the bone may be performed, restoring normal function to the leg.
When medically necessary, these procedures are covered by insurance and Medicare. Some insurance companies may require a second opinion from a different surgeon before covering the surgery.
Complete recovery from patella or quadricep tendon surgery can take up to 6 months. In either case, crutches may be used when walking to avoid pain in the recovering tendons.
Side effects are rare and may include weakness and loss of knee motion, re-rupturing of the tendon and a change in physical appearance of the kneecap. There are also the normal risks of surgical procedures, such as infection, bleeding and damage to the blood vessels or nerves.