Skip to main content
Log in

Surgical management of isolated popliteus tendon injuries in paediatric patients

  • Knee
  • Published:
Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy Aims and scope

Abstract

Isolated popliteus avulsion injuries are a rare occurrence, especially in the skeletally immature population. Two cases of isolated popliteus tendon avulsion injuries in paediatric patients were identified and successfully managed with suture anchor reattachment of the avulsed fragment in the anatomic position. The objective of this case report is to raise awareness of orthopaedic surgeons to the rarely encountered isolated popliteus tendon injury that can occur in paediatric patients.

Level of evidence Expert opinion, Level V.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Chen FS, Rokito AS, Pitman MI (2000) Acute and chronic posterolateral rotatory instability of the knee. J Am Acad Orthop Surg 8:97–110

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Covey DC (2001) Injuries of the posterolateral corner of the knee. J Bone Joint Surg Am 83-A:106–118

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. DeLee JC, Riley MB, Rockwood CA Jr (1983) Acute posterolateral rotatory instability of the knee. Am J Sports Med 11:199–207

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Dumont GD, Hogue GD, Padalecki JR, Okoro N, Wilson PL (2012) Meniscal and chondral injuries associated with pediatric anterior cruciate ligament tears: relationship of treatment time and patient-specific factors. Am J Sports Med 40:2128–2133

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Garth WP Jr, Pomphrey MM Jr, Merrill KD (1992) Isolated avulsion of the popliteus tendon: operative repair. A report of two cases. J Bone Joint Surg Am 74:130–132

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Gollehon DL, Torzilli PA, Warren RF (1987) The role of the posterolateral and cruciate ligaments in the stability of the human knee. A biomechanical study. J Bone Joint Surg Am 69:233–242

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Gruel JB (1990) Isolated avulsion of the popliteus tendon. Arthroscopy 6:94–95

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Kovack TJ, Jacob PB, Tesner R, Papp G (2011) Periosteal avulsion of the posterolateral corner of the knee in an adolescent: an unreported case. Orthopedics 34:791–794

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Krukhaug Y, Molster A, Rodt A, Strand T (1998) Lateral ligament injuries of the knee. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 6:21–25

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. McConkey JP (1991) Avulsion of the popliteus tendon. J Pediatr Orthop 11:230–233

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. McKay SD, Holt A, Stout T, Hysa VQ (2014) Successful nonoperative treatment of isolated popliteus tendon avulsion fractures in two adolescents. Case Rep Orthop 2014:759419

    PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Mirkopulos N, Myer TJ (1991) Isolated avulsion of the popliteus tendon. A case report. Am J Sports Med 19:417–419

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Nakhostine M, Perko M, Cross M (1995) Isolated avulsion of the popliteus tendon. J Bone Joint Surg Br 77:242–244

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Patel DV, Vad VB, Maynard MJ, Wickiewicz TL, Warren RF (1998) Injuries to the posterolateral structures of the knee. Knee 5:21–31

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Ramski DE, Kanj WW, Franklin CC, Baldwin KD, Ganley TJ (2014) Anterior cruciate ligament tears in children and adolescents: a meta-analysis of nonoperative versus operative treatment. Am J Sports Med 42:2769–2776

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Thapa MM, Chaturvedi A, Iyer RS, Darling SE, Khanna PC, Ishak G, Chew FS (2012) MRI of pediatric patients: Part 2, normal variants and abnormalities of the knee. AJR Am J Roentgenol 198:W456–W465

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Veltri DM, Deng XH, Torzilli PA, Maynard MJ, Warren RF (1996) The role of the popliteofibular ligament in stability of the human knee. A biomechanical study. Am J Sports Med 24:19–27

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Veltri DM, Deng XH, Torzilli PA, Warren RF, Maynard MJ (1995) The role of the cruciate and posterolateral ligaments in stability of the knee. A biomechanical study. Am J Sports Med 23:436–443

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. von Heideken J, Mikkelsson C, Bostrom Windhamre H, Janarv PM (2011) Acute injuries to the posterolateral corner of the knee in children: a case series of six patients. Am J Sports Med 39:2199–2205

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Vu Q, Khanna G (2009) Isolated popliteal tendon avulsion. Pediatr Radiol 39:1378

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Wheeler LD, Lee EY, Lloyd DC (2008) Isolated popliteus tendon avulsion in skeletally immature patients. Clin Radiol 63:824–828

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Joseph N. Liu.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

None of the authors have any financial conflict of interest pertaining to this manuscript.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Liu, J.N., Rebolledo, B.J., Warren, R.F. et al. Surgical management of isolated popliteus tendon injuries in paediatric patients. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 24, 788–791 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-016-4029-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-016-4029-x

Keywords

Navigation