Diagnosis of Bilateral Quadriceps Tendon Rupture Using Point-of-Care Ultrasound

A healthy 32-year-old man presented to the emergency department with bilateral knee pain after landing from a jump. He was unable to extend his knees and had pain to palpation superior to the patella. Bilateral quadriceps tendon rupture was confirmed using point-of-care ultrasound, and the patient underwent operative repair the next day.

Bilateral quadriceps tendon rupture is exceedingly rare, which often leads to misdiagnosis. Magnetic resonance imaging is the gold standard diagnostic imaging study but has multiple disadvantages, especially in emergency settings. Point-of-care ultrasound is an excellent tool to screen for this injury and prevent morbidity from delay in surgical repair.