Interface healing between remaining patella and patellar tendon after partial patellectomy-an experimental study in rabbits

The authors studied the radiographic patellar tendon calcification and evaluated the histology of the healing interface between patellar tendon and the remaining patella after partial patellectomy in 24 rabbits. Specimens were harvested at 8, 12 and 24 weeks post-operatively (n=8). Histological observation demonstrated that all healing interfaces between patellar tendon and patella were structurally overbridged by scar tissue. The structure incorporation of scar tissue with articular cartilage occurred earlier than with the bone interface. The radiographic patellar tendon calcification next to the healing interface was in fact trabecular bone outgrowth histologically, resulting in an enlargement of the remaining patellar in length with healing over time. Metaplasia of the scar tissue observed next to the healing interface of remaining patellar articular cartilage and the outgrowth of trabecular bone from the remaining patella with healing over time may increase the articular surface of the remaining patella after partial patellectomy.