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Updated: May 24, 2026
Intraoperative Ultrasound in Spinal Surgery
Published on: August 17, 2022
Quadriceps muscle rupture mimicking lumbar radiculopathy
Joon-Ho Lee1, Sung-Hwan Cho, Sang-Hyun Kim
1Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Soonchunhyang, Bucheon Hospital, 1174 Jung-Dong, Wonmi-Gu, Bucheon-Si, Gyeonggi-Do, 420-767, Korea. anpjuno@gmail.com
Study Design:
Case report.
Objective:
To report an unusual case of vastus lateralis muscle rupture not accompanied by any history of major trauma or the presence of a risk factor in a patient with spinal stenosis. Isolated vastus lateralis muscle rupture without an obvious cause is very rare. Localized pain and claudication are the most common symptoms and can be misdiagnosed as lumbar radiculopathy.
Methods:
A 70-year-old patient presented with right lower extremity and back pain, diagnosed as spinal stenosis. He was initially treated with caudal epidural block and transforaminal epidural block, which resulted in nearly complete relief of his symptoms. However, he subsequently experienced a pain that was no longer responsive to treatment. The ultrasonographic exam revealed a partial tear of the right vastus lateralis muscle.
Result:
Injection of local anesthetics relieved the patient's symptoms. At 1-month follow-up, he remained pain-free.
Conclusions:
In patients with lower back and leg pain, physicians should consider non-spinal conditions that can cause signs and symptoms mimicking lumbar radiculopathy.
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