Quadriceps Tendon Tear
Quadriceps tendon tear[edit | edit source]
search strategy[edit | edit source]
I consulted Pubmed to search for a good topic. I also consulted Medscape and Web of knowledge.
The keywords that I used: Quadriceps tendon tear, quadriceps tendon rupture, quadriceps tendon tear rehabilitation.
defenition[edit | edit source]
A quadriceps tendon tear is a tear of the distal tendon which is attached to the basis of the patella. The tear can be a partialor complete, complete tears mostly appears unilateral. Also bilateral tear is possible but is less common.
clinically relevant anatomy[edit | edit source]
The quadricepsmuscle is composed of 4 muscle groups: the m. rectus femoris, the m. vastuslateralis, the m. vastusmedialis and the m. intermedius.[12] All of them have their insertion on the basis of the patella but the m. vastuslateralis, the m. vastusmedialis and the m. vastusintermedius have also an insertion on the distal tendon of the m. rectus femoris. The tendon is multilayered. The rectus femoris is the most superficial layer inserting on to the patella and the vastuslateralis en medialis are the middle layers.[12]
epidemiology/ etiology[edit | edit source]
Unilateral ruptures are relatively rare when all types of knee injuries are considered; bilateral ruptures are even less common.
However, quadriceps tendon ruptures are more common than are patellar tendon ruptures, although quadriceps tendon ruptures are more likely to be misdiagnosed.
Partial and complete tears occur predominantly in males.
Ruptures of the quadriceps tendon occur relatively infrequently and usually occur in patients older than 40 years. But these ruptures may be seen in nearly any age group.
[12]
What about the etiology of the condition?
A muscle rupture often happens during a high impact action with a bad landing. During a landing there is a heavy load on a knee in flexion and the foot is planted on the ground (Jump). The Quadriceps muscle makes a rapid, eccentric contraction. Other mechanism is caused by a force straight on the anterior side of the knee(fall). Patients typically present with acute knee pain, swelling, and functional loss following a stumble, fall, or giving way of the knee.
[12]
