Evidence map›Paper›PMID 29166934›Full record

ArticleBMC musculoskeletal disorders2017

Arthroscopic patellar release for treatment of chronic symptomatic patellar tendinopathy: long-term outcome and influential factors in an athletic population.

Gernot Lang, Jan M Pestka, Dirk Maier, Kaywan Izadpanah, Norbert Südkamp, Peter Ogon

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC musculoskeletal disorders, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
1.3field-weighted citation impact, top 21% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 16 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. A Systematic Review of Surgical Treatment for Refractory Patellar Tendinopathy.Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Global research & reviews · 2025
    Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Gernot LangDepartment of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, University Medical Center Freiburg, Albert-Ludwigs-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, Hugstetter Strasse 55, 79106, Freiburg, Germany. Gernot.michael.lang@uniklinik-freiburg.de.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0685-1909
Jan M PestkaDepartment of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, University Medical Center Freiburg, Albert-Ludwigs-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, Hugstetter Strasse 55, 79106, Freiburg, Germany.
Dirk MaierDepartment of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, University Medical Center Freiburg, Albert-Ludwigs-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, Hugstetter Strasse 55, 79106, Freiburg, Germany.
Kaywan IzadpanahDepartment of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, University Medical Center Freiburg, Albert-Ludwigs-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, Hugstetter Strasse 55, 79106, Freiburg, Germany.
Norbert SüdkampDepartment of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, University Medical Center Freiburg, Albert-Ludwigs-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, Hugstetter Strasse 55, 79106, Freiburg, Germany.
Peter OgonDepartment of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, University Medical Center Freiburg, Albert-Ludwigs-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, Hugstetter Strasse 55, 79106, Freiburg, Germany.
University of Freiburg · DE

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundArthroscopic patellar release (APR) is utilized for minimally invasive surgical treatment of patellar tendinopathy. Evidence regarding long-term success following the procedure is limited. Also, the influence of age and preoperative performance level, are incompletely understood. The aim of this study was to investigate whether APR translates into sustained pain relief over a long-term follow-up in athletes undergoing APR. Furthermore, we analyzed if age influences clinical and functional outcome measures in APR.

methodsBetween 1998 and 2010, 30 competitive and recreational athletes were treated with APR due to chronic refractory patellar tendinopathy. All data were analyzed retrospectively. Demographic data, such as age or level of performance prior to injury were extracted. Clinical as well as functional outcome measures (Swedish Victorian Institute of sport assessment for patella (VISA-P), the modified Blazina score, pain level following exercise, return to sports, and subjective knee function were assessed pre- and postoperatively.

resultsIn total, 30 athletes were included in this study. At follow-up (8.8 ± 2.82 years), clinical and functional outcome measures such as the mean Blazina score, VISA-P, VAS, and subjective knee function revealed significant improvement compared to before surgery (P < 0.001). The mean time required for return to sports was 4.03 ± 3.18 months. After stratification by age, patients younger than 30 years of age yielded superior outcome in the mean Blazina score and pain level when compared to patients ≥30 years (P = 0.0448). At 8 years of follow-up, patients yielded equivalent clinical and functional outcome scores compared to our previous investigation after four years following APR.

conclusionIn summary, APR can be regarded a successful, minimally invasive, and sustained surgical technique for the treatment of patella tendinopathy in athletes. Younger age at surgery may be associated with improved clinical and functional outcome following APR.

Indexed as

AdolescentAdultArthroscopyAthletesAthletic InjuriesCohort StudiesFemaleFollow-Up StudiesHumansKnee InjuriesMaleMiddle AgedPainPatellaPatellar LigamentRetrospective Studiesjumper’s kneeKneeMRIOutcomePainPatellarPrognosisReturn to sportsRiskTendinitis

Identifiers

PMID29166934
PMCPMC5700547
OpenAlexW2769299140

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.