A Case Report: Bilateral Nonsimultaneous Partial Rupture of The Quadriceps Muscle

Abstract

Partial rupture of the quadriceps muscle is most commonly observed in the middle aged or elderly and it could either be a result of direct trauma or secondary to diseases such as diabetes, hyperparathyroidism and uremia. Rarely, in athletes, the rupture occurs with forces that cause a sudden contraction of the quadriceps muscle while the knee is in flexural position. We report a case of bilateral partial quadriceps muscle rupture in a 21 year old athlete which has occurred during sprinting. Our patient had ruptured his left quadriceps muscle 3 years ago and then ruptured his right side one year later. He had been given medical treatment only and was able to resume athletic activity within 3 months. This case is found to be of special interest for two reasons: The first reason is the patient's age. Such injury is quite rare in young athletes. The other point of interest is that the rupture is bilateral. A discussion of possible aetiopathological mechanisms to explain this case is presented along with a review of literature on the outcome of various treatment options.