To illustrate and categorize the different sites ofinjuriesof the rectus femoris focusing in the differences in the prognosis ineach case.

40 patients were evaluated from May 2013 to March 2016. They were all recreational athletes and had confirmed RFinjury assessed by orthopedics. RF injurieswere classified according to the anatomical location and imaging characteristics (Fig. 2). Clinical follow-up was then conducted to evaluate recovery (Fig. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8).

3 and 1.5 tesla MRI equipments wereused to perfor exams. Protocol included systematically a axial, sagittal y coronal STIR, T1 and T2 Fat-Sat acquisition completed according the results by T1 Fat-Sat. 7 types of injury are determined: 1) Anterior inferior iliac spine avulsion17.5% (Fig. 9, 10). 2) Injuries at the origin of the direct, indirec heads or conjoined tendon12.5% (Fig. 11, 12, 13). 3) Proximal myotendinous junction strains, which often involve the indirect headand the so-called degloving tears (wherea circumferential tear occurs through the peripheral...

Rectus femoris injuries are a recurrentcause of limitation in sports. MRI is the modalityof choice to examine the particular anatomy and definethe precise location, extent and severity of thestrain. According to these characteristics we can achieve a detailed injuryclassification, which allows us to diagramtheappropriate treatment and predict the recovery interval.

1Kassarjian A, Rodrigo RM, Santisteban JM. Current concepts in MRI of rectus femoris musculotendinous (myotendinous) and myofascial injuries in elite athletes. Eur J Radiol 2012;81:3763-3771. 2Jarvinen TAH, Jarvinen TLN, Kaariainen M, Kalimo H, Jarvinen M. Muscle injuries. Biology and treatment. Am J Sports Med 2005;33:745-764. 3Boutin RD. Muscle. A radiologic prespective: magnetic resonance imaging of muscle. In: Pedowitz RA, Chung CC, Resnick DR: Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Orthopaedic Sports Medicine, Springer, 2008, p. 1-20. 4Bordalo-Rodrigues M, Rosenberg ZS. MR imaging of the proximal rectus femoris...