Presentation
Fall, anterior knee pain. Unable to straight leg raise.
Patient Data
Patella alta, with soft tissue swelling inferior to the patella. Combined with the examination findings, features most in keeping with a complete patella tendon tear.
Case Discussion
Patella alta, or a high riding patella, can be a congenital finding, or if acute and associated with an inability to straight leg raise, more likely due to a complete patella tendon tear.
Many debate the 'more' correct terminology, between a patella ligament and a patella tendon. The patella bone is a sesamoid bone, so many will deem the patella tendon 'a tendon', as it is a continuation of the quadriceps muscle group and quadriceps tendon, to then insert on to the tibial tubercle.