Rectus Femoris Autograft Harvesting: Tips and Tricks

The rectus femoris tendon has recently emerged as a potential graft option for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction because of its favorable biomechanical properties, substantial graft length, and minimally invasive harvest characteristics. As the most superficial layer of the quadriceps tendon complex, the rectus femoris tendon can be selectively harvested while preserving the deeper quadriceps layers and extensor mechanism continuity. This technical note describes a reproducible minimally invasive technique for rectus femoris tendon harvest, emphasizing surgical anatomy, dissection planes, technical pearls, and pitfalls to optimize graft quality and minimize complications.