Quad / Patellar Tendon Repair — Patella / Quad Tendon Repair

Massachusetts General Hospital · MGH Sports Medicine

Weight-Bearing

WBAT with hinged knee brace locked in extension Phase I; FWB with brace locked in extension

Key Restrictions

Hinged brace locked in extension at all times (ambulating, sleeping, standing) Phase I; no active knee extension Phase I; no passive flexion >60 deg Phase I, do not push motion; no flexion >90 deg Phase II; no active knee extension until wk 6; flexion PROM starts at 50 deg at wk 2 and progresses 10 deg/wk to 90 deg; tissue quality and repair strength affect progression — check with surgeon

Timeline & Phases

5 phases: Phase I (0-14 days, brace locked in extension at all times, WBAT, no active extension, passive flexion <=60 deg), Phase II (2-6 wks, FWB in locked brace by 6 wks, flexion PROM 50 deg progressing 10 deg/wk to 90 deg, active extension to 0 deg with quad set by end), Phase III (6-15 wks, wean assistive devices, progressive strengthening, quad strength test at wk 16), Phase IV (4-6 months, quad index >=90%, return to jog/run), Phase V (6-8 months, progressive return to sport)

Notes

Criterion-based; covers both patellar AND quad tendon repair in same protocol; brace locked extension at all times Phase I is the critical restriction; no active extension Phase I; flexion progression: <=60 deg Phase I, 50 deg at wk 2 rising 10 deg/wk to 90 deg Phase II; heel props and prone hangs for extension from day 1.

Surgeon / Author

MGH Sports Medicine