Gout and Patellar Tendon Tears: An Uncommon Intersection

TL;DR

A young man with a history of gout developed a rare patellar tendon tear, highlighting the importance of considering gout as a potential cause in similar cases.

Contribution

This paper presents a rare case linking gout and patellar tendon tears, emphasizing the need for clinicians to consider this intersection in diagnosis.

Findings

A 36-year-old man with gout developed an atraumatic patellar tendon tear.

Early diagnosis and treatment led to a successful recovery and return to sports.

Clinicians should consider gout as a potential cause of patellar tendon tears.

Abstract

Patellar tendon (PT) tears are a rare cause of anterior knee pain and are usually classified as either partial or complete, with various potential etiologies. We present a unique case of a PT tear in a young male patient, precipitated by a history of gout. This case highlights the uncommon intersection of PT tears and gouty arthritis involving the entheses.

The patient was a 36-year-old man of Indian origin who presented with a two-week history of atraumatic right knee swelling, with no identifiable precipitating factors aside from a known history of gout flares. Clinical examination revealed swelling and joint line tenderness in the right knee, though the overall assessment was otherwise unremarkable. In this paper, we explore management options for patients presenting with this rare manifestation of gout leading to a PT tear.

This case highlights the importance of early assessment through thorough history-taking, physical examination, utilization of appropriate investigation modalities, and expedited treatment to facilitate a favorable outcome. Early intervention enabled a swift recovery and return to sports for the patient. It also serves as a valuable reminder for clinicians to consider PT tears in the differential diagnosis of anterior knee pain and to investigate potential causes of such tears, which may influence subsequent management.

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