Combined Rupture of the Right Anterior Cruciate Ligament and Patellar Tendon on a 28-Year-Old Spanish Professional Handball Player Successfully Treated by Single-Stage Reconstructive Surgery

Patient: Male, 28-year-old Final Diagnosis: Traumatic rupture of the patellar tendon and the anterior cruciate ligament delete Symptoms: Acute pain and functional impotence of the knee Medication: — Clinical Procedure: Surgical intervention in a single time Specialty: Orthopedics and Traumatology • Rehabilitation • Sports Medicine OBJECTIVE: Challenging differential diagnosis BACKGROUND: We present a case of combined rupture of the right anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and patellar tendon (PT) in a 28-year-old professional handball player that was successfully treated by single-stage reconstructive surgery. The combined rupture of the ACL and PT is a rare injury pattern, and there are only a few cases reported in the literature. Presently, little evidence exists to guide management decisions for these patients. In comparison to isolated injuries, the combined rupture of the PT and ACL presents many management dilemmas. CASE REPORT: A professional handball player from the Valencia Handball Club in the Spanish ASOBAL league had a rupture of the PT, ACL, medial collateral ligament, and medial meniscus in May 2004. A PT and ACL reconstruction was performed in a single-stage surgery. The patient returned to the sport and had no complications. He retired from professional competition after the 2016-17 season. Until follow-up in May 2021, he continued to be stable and without symptoms, remaining completely free of pain and arthrofibrosis, and the patella was centered. CONCLUSIONS: Single-stage reconstruction of the PT and ACL in an elite-level athlete facilitated the continuation of his performance at the highest level of the sport. To the best of our knowledge, this is the only published case of a PT and ACL reconstruction in a single-stage surgical procedure that resulted in the patient making a full return to playing handball in Spain at an elite level. This case has important implications for sports medicine and sports physiotherapy.