Biomechanical Evaluation and Comparative Analysis of Functional Scores in Suture Anchor Versus Transosseous Tunnel Patellar Tendon Repair Techniques in Adult Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Patellar tendon injuries, although less frequent than other knee injuries, can have a profound impact on knee function, often leading to significant disability. Among the various surgical techniques employed to repair these injuries, the suture anchor and transosseous tunnel methods are the most commonly used. This systematic review and meta-analysis compares the biomechanical properties and functional outcomes of these two repair techniques. A thorough search of relevant databases was conducted until June 2024, including studies that directly compared the suture anchor and transosseous tunnel methods for patellar tendon repair. Data extraction and quality assessments were performed independently by two reviewers. The primary outcomes assessed were biomechanical strength and functional recovery, using the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) scores, Lysholm score, and Kujala score. A total of four studies involving 196 participants met the inclusion criteria. Both techniques were found to significantly improve functional outcomes. However, suture anchor repairs were associated with lower complication rates and earlier rehabilitation compared to the transosseous tunnel technique. Despite these differences, the meta-analysis showed no statistically significant difference in postoperative IKDC scores between the two methods. In conclusion, while both the suture anchor and transosseous tunnel techniques are effective for patellar tendon repair, the suture anchor method appears to offer biomechanical advantages, fewer complications, and faster recovery. Further high-quality research is recommended to validate these findings.