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Review
. 2023 Dec 1;105-B(12):1244-1251.
doi: 10.1302/0301-620X.105B12.BJJ-2023-0399.R1.

Quadriceps injuries

Ricci Plastow  1 , Rhody D Raj  1   2 , Andreas Fontalis  1   2 , Fares S Haddad  1   2   3
Affiliations
Review

Quadriceps injuries

Ricci Plastow et al. Bone Joint J. .

Abstract

Injuries to the quadriceps muscle group are common in athletes performing high-speed running and kicking sports. The complex anatomy of the rectus femoris puts it at greatest risk of injury. There is variability in prognosis in the literature, with reinjury rates as high as 67% in the severe graded proximal tear. Studies have highlighted that athletes can reinjure after nonoperative management, and some benefit may be derived from surgical repair to restore function and return to sport (RTS). This injury is potentially career-threatening in the elite-level athlete, and we aim to highlight the key recent literature on interventions to restore strength and function to allow early RTS while reducing the risk of injury recurrence. This article reviews the optimal diagnostic strategies and classification of quadriceps injuries. We highlight the unique anatomy of each injury on MRI and the outcomes of both nonoperative and operative treatment, providing an evidence-based management framework for athletes.

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Conflict of interest statement

A. Fontalis reports research funding through the Freemasons’ Royal Arch Fellowship with support from the Arthritis Research Trust and the Onassis Foundation, unrelated to this study. F. S. Haddad reports multiple research grants from Stryker, Smith & Nephew, Corin, International Olympic Committee, and NIHR, royalties from Stryker, Smith & Nephew, Corin, and MatOrtho, consulting fees from Stryker, speaker payments from Stryker, Smith & Nephew, Zimmer, and AO Recon, and support for attending meetings from Stryker, Smith & Nephew, AO Recon, and The Bone & Joint Journal, all of which are unrelated to this article. F. S. Haddad is also Editor-in-Chief of The Bone & Joint Journal, a member of the BOSTAA executive committee, and a trustee of the British Orthopaedic Association.

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