Patellar tendinopathy is a frequent cause of pain in athletes, especially in those sports that involve jumping. It is a predominantly degenerative process (tendinosis) with little involvement of inflammatory components.
In the diagnosis approach, ultrasound offers some advantages, such as better spatial resolution, real-time evaluation, assessment of hypervascularization by color Doppler, which allow for the categorization of each patient according to the ultrasound findings. Therapeutic management includes several alternatives, such as physical therapy, tendon fenestration, platelet-rich plasma infiltration, percutaneous electrolysis, shock waves, among others, which, according to the ultrasound characteristics of the lesion, will have specific recommendations.
Cite this article as: Rosales J, Álvarez NG, Butrón S, Yáñez R, Droppelmann G, Verdugo MA. Patellar tendinopathy: Ultrasound diagnosis and therapeutic management. Imaging Interv. 2021;1(2):38-43.