Rare Case of Calcific Tendinitis of Patellar Tendon: A Cause of Anterior Knee Pain Leading to Unnecessary Surgical Intervention

Abstract Calcific tendinopathy is a common soft-tissue pathology that mostly affects the rotator cuff tendons of the shoulder, while its presentation in the patellar tendon is very rare. We present the case of a 56-year-old male with anterior knee pain during jogging, with a history of similar symptoms 20 years ago. Clinical examination revealed localized tenderness below the lower pole of the patella over the origin of the patellar tendon, with no restriction in knee motion. Radiographs showed calcific deposits at the tendon origin, which were confirmed on magnetic resonance imaging. The patient was managed conservatively with analgesics, resulting in significant symptom relief and no surgical intervention or biopsy was necessary due to classic imaging features and clinical stability. This case highlights the importance of considering calcific tendinopathy as a differential diagnosis in chronic or recurrent anterior knee pain to avoid unnecessary surgical interventions.