Spontaneous tendon ruptures in patients treated by chronic hemodialysis.

Patients with renal failure treated by chronic hemodialysis tend to spontaneous tendon ruptures. In five out of 35 patients, 8 ruptured tendons have been found--four quadriceps and four finger tendon ruptures. Finger tendon ruptures are usually ignored by the patients because of the low disabling factor in the presence of more vital problems. Secondary hyperparathyroidism was found in all patients who had tendon ruptures and may possibly be the major disposing factor. The patients with tendon ruptures in our series were significantly younger than those without ruptures and had been treated for a longer period of time by hemodialysis, indicating that, whatever the reason for the ruptures, it seems to be a time-related phenomenon.