Negative muscle pennation angle as a sign of massive musculotendinous retraction after tendon tear: paradoxical function of the vastus lateralis muscle.

Meyer, D C; Gerber, C; Farshad, M · Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc · 2011

case_report · Level V

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Abstract

In the presented case, an isolated vastus lateralis tendon tear resulted in a negative pennation angle of the distal muscle fibers acting paradoxical to the physiological direction of the proximal muscle fibers. This observation makes the value of an in situ repair of a far retracted tendon tear with interposition of a graft questionable and emphasizes early over late anatomic surgical restoration of the muscle architecture after tendon tears.

Medical subject headings