2024-09-23 17:00:37
Goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen injured his knee during FC Barcelona’s match. A torn patellar tendon could keep him out of action for months.
The German national goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen suffered a serious injury to his right knee in FC Barcelona’s league match against FC Villarreal. The diagnosis: The goalkeeper has torn his patellar tendon and will undergo surgery on Monday. In this article, you will find out what this injury is all about and how long it takes to heal.
The patellar tendon, also called the knee ligament, connects the lower part of the kneecap (patella) to the shinbone. Together with the tendon of the thigh muscle (quadriceps tendon), the patellar tendon stabilizes the kneecap and ensures that the knee can be extended and bent.
If you receive a direct blow to the patellar tendon or fall in an unfortunate position, the knee ligament can tear. Overloading the tendon during sport can also cause the patellar tendon to tear, for example during sudden stops or changes of direction. This is why patellar tendon tears are common in sports such as skiing, tennis or football.
Goalkeeper ter Stegen apparently injured himself after intercepting a cross. When he landed, he fell roughly on his back and right leg. Such a fall can severely overstretch the knee ligament and cause it to tear.
If the patellar tendon tears, the kneecap is no longer attached to the shinbone and can therefore slide upwards. This means that the knee can no longer be straightened. The knee is usually also very swollen and painful. Bruising can also occur, causing the knee to turn red or bluish. If only part of the tendon is torn, the symptoms are less severe.
Whether there is a complete tear of the knee ligament or only a partial tear is determined using ultrasound or magnetic resonance therapy (MRI).
If the patellar tendon is completely torn, surgery is usually required. The tendon is reattached to the kneecap using suture anchors or stitches through the bone, or, if the tendon is not torn directly at the kneecap, it is sewn to itself. The knee must then not be put under any strain for around six weeks. To ensure this, those affected must wear a splint. After the six weeks, the knee joint is gradually bent over a further six weeks. Physiotherapy treatment is also provided. The knee can usually be fully loaded again after twelve weeks.
If the patellar tendon is incompletely torn, conservative treatment is usually used without surgery. However, regeneration can take longer in this case. The knee can usually be fully loaded again within six months.
For the German national goalkeeper ter Stegen, a tear of the patellar tendon – whether partial or complete – could mean that he will be out of action for several months. Even if the knee is able to bear weight again after a few weeks, sport should be avoided for a longer period of time. Experts recommend avoiding sport for six to 12 months, depending on the extent of the knee ligament tear. The lost muscles can then be rebuilt.