Management of extensor mechanism injuries following total knee arthroplasty

Extensor mechanism injuries in total knee arthroplasty include disruption of the quadriceps tendon, disruption of the patellar tendon, and/or patellar fractures. While these injuries are rare, they are a devastating complication to manage. This review summarizes the anatomy of the extensor mechanism, risk factors for extensor mechanism injuries, and the prevalence and diagnosis of extensor mechanism injuries. In addition, this review outlines non-operative and operative management options. A new surgical approach for the reconstruction and augmentation of the extensor mechanism with the use of a synthetic mesh is described in detail. In multiple publications and in our own experience this newly developed technique shows promising results.