Patellar Tendon Ruptures in National Football League Players

Background: Although knee injuries are common among professional football players, ruptures of the patellar tendon are relatively rare. Predisposing factors, mechanisms of injury, treatment guidelines, and recovery expectations are not well established in high-level athletes.Hypothesis: Professional football players with isolated rupture of the patellar tendon treated with timely surgical repair will return to their sport.Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4.Methods: Twenty-four ruptures of the patellar tendon in 22 National Football League (NFL) players were identified from 1994 through 2004. Team physicians retrospectively reviewed training room and clinic records, operative notes, and imaging studies for each of these players. Player game statistics and draft status were analyzed to identify return to play predictors. A successful outcome was defined as participating in 1 regular-season NFL game.Results: Eleven of the 24 injuries had antecedent symptoms. The most common mechanism of injury w...