Abstract
Introduction
Patella tendonitis is common amongst sportsmen. No published evidence of this injury in elite professional footballers exists. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of this injury in the elite professional footballer, along with the impact of such an injury on the amount of time missed and the outcomes of various treatment options.
Methods
Data was collected prospectively for injuries suffered by first team players, development squad players and academy squad players over the 2009–10 and 2010–11 English Premier League (EPL) season at one EPL club. Each player's demographics were recorded. The injury was recorded along with the time that the player was absent because of the injury, the treatment that the player received and whether they suffered any recurrence of the injury.
Results
35 knee injuries were observed during the period of this study, 21% of all injuries. Ten were patella tendonopathies, a frequency of 28.6% of knee injuries and 6% of all injuries suffered. Eight injuries were in first team players and 2 in academy players. Mean absence was 67 days in first team and 120 days in academy players. Both the academy players underwent surgery as their primary treatment. No first team player had surgery. Four first team players were treated with local injection (2 with sclerosant and 2 with Platelet Rich Plasma) with a mean absence of 110 days. Four injuries were treated with physiotherapy, mean absence of 24 days. There was recurrence in 4 cases, all within the first team (50%), 2 in each of the physiotherapy and injection groups. No recurrence was observed when undertaking surgery.
Conclusions
Patella tendonitis is a common knee injury suffered by elite professional footballers, which results in a prolonged absence and carries a high risk of recurrence. The best treatment option remains debateable.
