Briefly review the functional anatomy of the rectus femoris muscle/tendon unit, especially its complex origin, which influences patterns of injury and clinical management. To illustrate the spectrum of imaging findings in proximal rectus femoris injuries.

Rectus femoris is an important structure that is primarily involved in sprinting and kicking,reflected in the high incidence of injury seen associated with football and rugby. Magnetic resonance imaging is invaluable in assessing the site and grade of injury thus predicting the prognosis for acute rectus femoris strains, tears and tendon ruptures. Sonography also plays a role in diagnosis, image guided intervention and surveillance prior to return-to-play. We reviewed MRI and ultrasound imaging of patients who sustained proximal rectus femoris muscle injury paying particular attention...

We have illustrated various injury patterns In grade 1 injury there was feathery pattern seen at the level of the musculotendinous junction. (Fig 1, 2) this is usually treated conservatively. Grade 2 injury patterns could involve the muscle belly in isolation, with sparing of the central septum (Fig 3, 4) or more commonly involve the septum or the musculotendinous junction (Fig 5, 6). It is not an uncommon conundrum to be certain about the grading of the injury just on its MR appearance, in which...

Rectus femoris is the only quadriceps muscle which acts at both hip and knee joints and is therefore commonly injured while sprinting or kicking. Thisreview will serve as a guide to accurate description and grading of proximal rectus femoris injuries and thus aid clinicians in planning therapy and predicting rehabilitation.

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