- Details
- Hits: 21324
User Rating: 5 / 5
Random Case Generator
Knee Went Out
32 year-old male was doing a 425 lbs back squat and felt a painful "pop" in his anterior R knee above the kneecap and dropped to the ground. He has been unable to walk and his knee is extremely swollen. X-rays are read as normal but he cannot extend his knee on exam.
Knee Went Out
Author: R "Max" Lystrup, MD, CAQSM
Peer-reviewer: M. Terese Whipple, MD
Editor: Alex Tomesch, MD
32 year-old male was doing a 425 lbs back squat and felt a painful "pop" in his anterior R knee above the kneecap and dropped to the ground. He has been unable to walk and his knee is extremely swollen. X-rays are read as normal but he cannot extend his knee on exam.
Image 1: Ultrasound of the R anterior knee. Robert Lystrup's images.
What is your management and disposition?
Imaging is not necessary to make the diagnosis of quad tendon rupture. If the diagnosis is in question, ultrasound (Image 1) or MRI (Image 2) can be used to confirm the diagnosis. MRI can be obtained on an outpatient basis.
Image 2: MRI of the R knee demonstrating an acute tear of the quadriceps tendon with retraction. Robert Lystrup's images.
References
[1] Ilan DI, Tejwani N, Keschner M, Leibman M. "Quadriceps tendon rupture." Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. 2003; 11(3): 192-200.
All content on the Ortho EM Pearls website is purely educational and should not be construed as medical advice. The content and all associated information on this website is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Please seek care from a medical professional and if you are having a medical emergency, please call 911.
Ortho EM Pearls is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
© 2021 by ShamiDesigns. All rights reserved.