# Reconstruction of a Chronic Quadriceps Tendon Rupture in an Elderly Polio Patient

## TL;DR

An elderly man with polio successfully recovered from a chronic quadriceps tendon tear using a surgical technique with tendon graft.

## Contribution

A successful surgical approach for chronic quadriceps tendon rupture in elderly polio patients using autograft augmentation.

## Key findings

- The patient achieved full weight bearing within 3 months post-surgery.
- MRI at 5 years showed good healing and integration of the tendon graft.
- Tendon repair with autograft is effective for chronic quadriceps tendon tears in elderly patients.

## Abstract

Quadriceps tendon tears are uncommon lesions and their diagnosis can be missed in up to 50% of cases. We report a case of a 83-year-old man with polio who has a chronic quadriceps tendon tear in a healthy limb. A modified Codivilla technique augmented with an ipsilateral semitendinosus tendon was performed. Partial weight bearing was allowed immediately after surgery, and at 3 months the patient was able to walk with full weight bearing on the involved limb. The 5-year follow-up MRI showed good quadriceps tendon healing with the full integration of the tendon graft. Tendon repair with autograft augmentation represents a potential and effective solution in elderly patients with a chronic quadriceps tendon tear.