Quadriceps Tendon Ruptures: A Clinical Review

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Sports Medicine
• Musculoskeletal Imaging

Background:

• Quadriceps tendon ruptures (QTRs) are infrequent but debilitating lower limb injuries.
• These injuries typically affect middle-aged to older adults, often associated with comorbidities or degenerative tendon changes.
• QTRs commonly occur during eccentric quadriceps contraction with sudden knee flexion.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the diagnosis, management, and current treatment strategies for quadriceps tendon ruptures.
• To highlight the role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in QTR assessment.
• To discuss individualized treatment approaches based on injury and patient factors.

Main Methods:

• Clinical diagnosis based on history and physical examination.
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) for confirmation, staging, and tissue quality assessment.
• Review of current management strategies including operative and non-operative options.

Main Results:

• QTRs present with pain and loss of active knee extension, requiring prolonged rehabilitation.
• MRI is crucial for defining rupture site, severity, and tissue characteristics.
• Both transosseous tunnel and suture anchor repair show similar outcomes.
• Non-operative treatment may be suitable for selected partial tears in low-demand patients.

Conclusions:

• Management of QTRs is individualized, considering tear characteristics and patient factors.
• Operative repair is standard for complete ruptures and significant partial tears.
• Ongoing research in biological augmentation and minimally invasive techniques may evolve future treatment paradigms.