Operative Treatment of a Complete Rupture of the Origination of the Rectus Femoris

A 23-year-old male athlete reported both feeling and hearing a pop in his anterior thigh while sprinting. This was followed by immediate pain and an inability to walk. He had swelling and tenderness in his inguinal region. Radiographs were normal. An magnetic resonance imaging revealed a complete avulsion of the rectus femoris from its origin on the anterior inferior iliac spine. Following discussions of his treatment options, the patient chose to undergo operative management of the injury. A surgical repair was performed of the tendon of the direct head to the anterior inferior iliac spine through bone tunnels. He had a full recovery over the next 6 months and subsequently returned to unrestricted active military duty.