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Quadriceps tendon rupture

Case contributed by Roberto Schubert
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Pain and swelling above the knee cap, painful extension. History of ACL repair on the same side.

Patient Data

Age: 45 years
Gender: Male
mri

Complete disruption of some of the lateral bundles of the lateral part of the quadriceps tendon with intact medial bundles, above the osseotendinous junction, with redundancy and joint effusion in the suprapatellar synovial recess.

There are also tears and edematous changes of the vastus medialis, rectus femoris and vastus lateralis muscles.

Intact ACL reconstruction tunnel and graft.

Case Discussion

Features are suggestive of partial quadriceps tendon rupture. The quadriceps tendon derives from four muscles i.e. vastus lateralis, vastus medialis and vastus intermedius muscles as well as rectus femoris. Quadriceps tendon rupture can be complete or incomplete.

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