Quadriceps tendon rupture

Acute knee pain is a frequently encountered problem in the clinical settings. In 2003, American Orthopedic Association recorded that 19.4 million people visited a physician because of a knee problem. Knee pain due to injuries is increasing even among the older population, as a greater number of persons are participating in recreational activities. The quadriceps tendon rupture is not a common condition among acute causes of knee pain. However, it can be quite debilitating. The usual clinical presentation includes a middle-aged person presenting with a history of fall accompanied by swelling and inability to extend the knee. Providers who are faced with this clinical situation should be able to recognize this condition sooner than later. It is very important that precise clinical decisions be made, so as to achieve best outcomes. This article reviews the etiology, epidemiology, clinical presentation, differential diagnosis, and management of quadriceps tendon rupture.