Sonographic Overview of Usual and Unusual Disorders of the Rectus Femoris Tendon Origins

J Ultrasound Med. 2018 Jun;37(6):1543-1553. doi: 10.1002/jum.14352. Epub 2017 Aug 31.

Abstract

Rectus femoris muscle proximal injuries are not rare conditions. The proximal rectus femoris tendinous anatomy is complex and may be affected by traumatic, microtraumatic, or nontraumatic disorders. A good knowledge of the proximal rectus femoris anatomy allows a better understanding of injury and disorder patterns. A new sonographic lateral approach was recently described to assess the indirect head of the proximal rectus femoris, hence allowing for a complete sonographic assessment of the proximal rectus femoris tendons. This article will review sonographic features of direct, indirect, and conjoined rectus femoris tendon disorders.

Keywords: direct tendon; enthesopathy; indirect tendon; musculoskeletal; rectus femoris; sonography; tendinopathy.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Quadriceps Muscle / diagnostic imaging*
  • Tendon Injuries / diagnostic imaging*
  • Tendons / diagnostic imaging*
  • Ultrasonography / methods*