Background: Bilateral rupture of the patellar tendon is a very rare injury, which takes place in relation to chronic systemic diseases. These injuries are known causes. Some of these causes are particular in patellar tendon rupture and another are in quadriceps tendon rupture.

Case presentation: 70-year-old diabetic man with simultaneous bilateral patellar tendon disruption of proximal insertion without trauma, receiving long-term hemodialysis.

Conclusions: In the present study, we report a case of patellar tendon rupture that has two differences with literature: first, renal failure is a known risk factor for quadriceps tendon rupture, and secondly, the prevalent age of patellar tendon rupture is less than 40 years. Clinical picture, diagnosis, pathogenesis and treatment are discussed. Finally, the literature is reviewed based on previous studies.