Intrinsic Healing of a Patellar Tendon Donor Site Defect After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

An unclosed central one-third patellar tendon anterior cruciate ligament donor site was evaluated in a 22-year-old man. The repair was reevaluated eight months later by histologic analysis and magnetic resonance imaging. The donor defect healed intrinsically with hypertrophic tendinous tissue. This case suggests that sutured patellar tendon donor site closure may be unnecessary.