QUADRICEPS TENDON RUPTURE

Course overview

THE QUADRICEPS TENDON IS DERIVED FROM THE MUSCULAR JUNCTION OF THE RECTUS FEMORIS, VASTUS LATERALIS, VASTUS MEDIALIS, AND VASTUS INTERMEDIUS MUSCLES AT THE ANTERIOR SUPERIOR POLE OF THE PATELLA. THE QUADRICEPS TENDON IN COMBINATION WITH PATELLAR TENDON AND THE PATELLA BONE MAKE UP THE EXTENSOR MECHANISM OF THE LOWER LEG. A RUPTURE OF THIS CENTRAL TENDON DRASTICALLY HINDERS KNEE EXTENSION AND DIRECTLY EFFECTS FUNCTIONALITY. THE DEGREE THAT A QUADRICEPS TENDON RUPTURE LIMITS LOWER LEG EXTENSION IS BASED ON THE SEVERITY OF TENDON DAMAGE. MINOR TENDON TEARS MAY HAVE MINIMAL IMPACT ON EXTENSOR FUNCTION, WHILE COMPLETE TENDON TEARS MAY TOTALLY IMPEDE LOWER LEG EXTENSION. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE ETIOLOGY, PRESENTATION, EVALUATION, AND MANAGEMENT OF QUADRICEPS TENDON RUPTURE AND REVIEWS THE ROLE OF THE INTER-PROFESSIONAL TEAM IN EVALUATING, DIAGNOSING, AND MANAGING THIS CONDITION.