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Rectus femoris injury - intramuscular degloving

Case contributed by Henry Knipe
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Thigh pain.

Patient Data

Age: 25 years
Gender: Male

Hyperintensity of the distal rectus femoris muscle centered on the proximal myotendinous junction with complete disruption of fibers. Peripherally, muscle fibers of rectus femoris are intact. The proximal myotendinous is wavy. Distal myotendinous junction is intact. 

Case Discussion

This is an example of an intramuscular degloving injury of rectus femoris, which despite appearances, is essentially a grade 3 injury with peripheral muscle fibers that are intact reflecting the anatomy of the muscle with the indirect head principally forming the deep component that forms the distal myotendinous junction and the direct head principally forming superficial component that blends with the fascia. 

Case courtesy Dr Chien Ho, Lake Imaging, Geelong, Australia.

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