Quad / Patellar Tendon Repair — Quadriceps Tendon / Patellar Tendon Repair

Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center · OSU Sports Medicine

Weight-Bearing

FWB with brace locked in extension x 6 wks; typically WB with TROM open x 1-2 wks prior to discharge from brace

Key Restrictions

No flexion >90 deg x 6 wks; no forced flexion x 8-10 wks; no loaded CKC quad strengthening x 6 wks; OKC progression: multi-angle isometrics at wk 4, LAQ at wk 6 (add weight as able), knee extension machine at wk 8 (partial → full); refer to operative note for ROM guidelines; long-term quad strength deficits are common — can exhaust insurance-approved PT visits

Timeline & Phases

5 phases: Protection Phase (0-6 wks, brace locked in extension, no flexion >90 deg, patellar mobs, NMES, multi-angle isometrics 90-60 deg at wk 4, unloaded LAQ at wk 6), Early Loading Phase (6-10 wks, unlock brace 1-2 wks before discharge, open chain extension with external load, normalize gait), Strength and Power Phase (10-16 wks, isometric quad/HS >=80% to progress), Return to Function Phase (4-6 months, jogging progression), Return to Sport (>6 months, isokinetic quad/HS >=80% at 60 and 300 deg/sec to start running and jumping)

Notes

.edu site; CPG format; April 2020; covers both quad AND patellar tendon repair; risk factors noted: long-term quad deficits, insurance visit exhaustion; OKC progression timeline explicit (isometrics wk 4 → LAQ wk 6 → machine wk 8); outcome tools: LEFS at each visit, optional IKDC, KOOS, ACL-RSI, Tegner; Cho-Pat strap/patellar taping for PF symptoms; criterion-based

Surgeon / Author

OSU Sports Medicine

Published

April 2020