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Final Program

608 - Acute Bilateral Quadriceps Tendon Rupture with Subsequent Post-Intervention Tendon Re-Rupture: A Case Report

Friday, February 28, 2025
5:00 PM - 6:30 PM MST

    Presenting Author(s)

  • OO

    Obieze Ogbo, DO

    PGY-1
    MountainView Regional Medical Center
    Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States

    • Co-Author(s)

  • MT

    Mohsen Tahani, MD

    Interventional Spine/Pain Management Physiatrist
    Spine, Pain and Rehab Associates LLC
    Kansas City, Missouri, United States

Case Diagnosis: Simultaneous full-thickness bilateral quadriceps tendon rupture

Case Description: This case report describes a 55-year-old male with chronic comorbidities who experiences a simultaneous bilateral QTR after falling when attempting to step down the stairs. Physical exam findings and radiological imaging confirm a bilateral complete suprapatellar tendon soft tissue tear, which is followed by an open surgical repair and inpatient rehabilitation. The patient subsequently re-ruptures his right quadriceps tendon, which is managed conservatively with home physical therapy. The focus of the report is to highlight appropriate diagnosis and rehabilitation intervention/management for patients with simultaneous bilateral QTR, while emphasizing the parameters used to assess the success of therapy.

Discussions:

Quadriceps tendon ruptures (QTR) are uncommon, with “an annual incidence of 1.37 patients per 100.000 persons, mainly affecting mainly middle-aged males (M:F = 4.2:1, Mean age: 51.1 years)”. Most cases result from a sudden, hyper-eccentric contraction of the quadriceps complex, usually in an attempt to prevent a fall. Within this cohort are bilateral QTRs, which have a much lower prevalence compared to unilateral ruptures. Rupture of both tendons has more therapeutic barriers since the patient has severely limited ambulation and is significantly dependent when it comes to general mobility and certain activities of daily living. When managing any patient with this pathology, one must consider the 1) the mechanism of injury, 2) risk factors involved and 3) appropriate multidisciplinary intervention that leads to restoration of knee function and long-term recovery. 


Conclusions: Bilateral quadriceps tendon ruptures are an uncommon phenomenon, and management faces significant challenges when planning/optimizing appropriate healthcare and therapy. Specific risk factors, like obesity and chronic use of certain medications (i.e., corticosteroids), can increase the risk of rupture (and subsequent re-rupture). Early diagnosis, surgery and therapy intervention is crucial for excellent outcomes in mobility restoration.