Rectus femoris tendon avulsion in an amateur athlete: case report diagnosed by magnetic resonance

Abstract

Introduction: the rectus femoris muscle is the most frequently injured muscle of the quadriceps group during repetitive kicking and sprinting. Avulsions of the rectus femoris are rare injuries. Pain located at the proximal thigh and disability in flexing the hip and/or extending the knee associated with a patient history of a violent contraction or forceful stretching of the quadriceps femoris muscle group can indicate an avulsion of rectus femoris. Objective: report a case and review the literature about this uncommon lesion. Materials and Methods: we reviewed medical records, photographic records of diagnostic methods, and reviews from the literature. Results: a 46-year-old man with pain located at the left anterior hip with irradiation to the thigh for three months after falling to the ground with the sore region in a soccer game. The pain started suddenly one week after the fall. The MRI of the hip featured complete avulsion of the left rectus femoris, being 2 cm distal from the anterior inferior iliac spine with adjacent liquid effusion. Conclusion: this report demonstrates the difficulty of diagnosing this lesion, since its physical examination is non-specific, and it can simulate more complex pathologies, requiring complementary tests for its correct diagnosis.

Keywords

• tendon injuries
• magnetic resonance imaging
• quadriceps muscle
• thigh