TY - JOUR PY - 2017// TI - Surgical management of rectus femoris avulsion among professional soccer players JO - Orthopaedic journal of sports medicine A1 - Sonnery-Cottet, Bertrand A1 - Barbosa, Nuno Camelo A1 - Tuteja, Sanesh A1 - Gardon, Roland A1 - Daggett, Matt A1 - Monnot, Damien A1 - Kajetanek, Charles A1 - Thaunat, Mathieu SP - e2325967116683940 EP - e2325967116683940 VL - 5 IS - 1 N2 - BACKGROUND: Rectus femoris injuries are common among athletes, especially in kicking sports such as soccer; however, proximal rectus femoris avulsions in athletes are a relatively rare entity.

PURPOSE/HYPOTHESIS: The purpose of this study was to describe and report the results of an original technique of surgical excision of the proximal tendon remnant followed by a muscular suture repair. Our hypothesis was that this technique limits the risk of recurrence in high-level athletes and allows for rapid recovery without loss of quadriceps strength. STUDY DESIGN: Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

METHODS: Our retrospective series included 5 players aged 31.8 ± 3.9 years with acute proximal rectus femoris avulsion injuries who underwent a surgical resection of the proximal tendon between March 2012 and June 2014. Four of these players had recurrent rectus femoris injuries in the 9 months before surgery, while 1 player had surgery after a first injury. Mean follow-up was 18.2 ± 12.6 months, and minimum follow-up was 9 months. We analyzed the age, sex distribution, physical examination outcomes, type and mechanism of injury, diagnosis, treatment and complications during surgery, postoperative follow-up, and time to return to play. The Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS) and Marx scores were obtained at 3-month follow-up, and isokinetic tests were performed before return to sports. A telephone interview was completed to determine the presence of recurrence at an average follow-up of 18.2 months.

RESULTS: At 3-month follow-up, all patients had Marx activity scores of 16 and LEFS scores of 80. Return to the previous level of play occurred at a mean of 15.8 ± 2.6 weeks after surgery, and none of the athletes suffered a recurrence. Isokinetic test results were comparable between both sides.

CONCLUSION: The surgical treatment of proximal rectus femoris avulsions, consisting of resection of the tendinous part of the muscle, is a reliable and safe technique allowing a fast recovery in professional athletes.

Language: en

LA - en SN - 2325-9671 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/2325967116683940 ID - ref1 ER -