Quadriceps Tendon Tear
OVERVIEW
A quadriceps tendon tear is an injury that occurs when the tendon in the front of your thigh tears partially or entirely. This injury is most commonly due to an abrupt, forcefully impact on your thigh. There are both surgical and non-surgical treatment options available to help heal your quadriceps tendon. Your Florida Orthopaedic Institute physician will walk you through your options and help determine how to best treat your injury.
Quadriceps tendon tears are rare but serious injuries. While not common, they most often occur among middle-aged people who play running or jumping sports.
ANATOMY
Tendons are strong cords of fibrous tissue that attach muscles to bones. The quadriceps tendon attaches the four quadriceps muscles that meet just above the kneecap (patella). The patella is attached to the shinbone (tibia) by a tendon known as the patellar tendon. All these muscles and tendons work together in the front of your thigh to straighten the knee.

DESCRIPTION
A quadriceps tendon tear is an injury that results in the tendon in the front of your thigh to rip. There are two different types of tears; partial tears, and complete tears. In a partial tear, the tendon is not fully torn. A partial tear is like a rope that is stretched so far that some of the fibers fray, but the rope does not break. A complete tear, as the name suggests, occurs when the quadriceps tendon entirely tears.
A quadriceps tendon tear often occurs when there is a heavy load on the leg with the foot planted and the knee partially bent. This type of tear is also caused by falls, direct force to the front of the knee, or a deep cut.
Several factors can increase your chance of tearing your quadriceps tendon, such as:
- Chronic renal failure.
- Conditions associated with renal dialysis.
- Hyperparathyroidism.
- Gout.
- Leukemia.
- Rheumatoid arthritis.
- Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE).
- Diabetes Mellitus.
- Infection.
- Metabolic Disease.
- Steroid use.
- Prolonged immobilization.
- Fluoroquinolones (a specific type of antibiotic).

SYMPTOMS
When the quadriceps tendon tears, there is often an initial tearing or popping sensation, followed by pain and swelling. You may also experience some or all the following symptoms:
- Tenderness.
- Inability to straighten the knee.
- Bruising.
- Cramping.
- An indentation at the top of your kneecap where the tendon tore.
- Saggy or droopy kneecap.
- Difficulty walking due to the knee-buckling or giving away.

DIAGNOSIS
Your Florida Orthopaedic Institute physician will analyze your symptoms, medical history, and general health, followed by a thorough examination of your knee. To determine the exact cause of your symptoms, your doctor will test how well you can extend or straighten your knee.
To confirm your diagnosis, your physician may order some imaging test, such as:
- X-rays. The kneecap moves out of place when the quadriceps tendon tears. The tear is often very obvious on a “sideways” x-ray view of the knee. Complete tears are usually identified with these x-rays alone.
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). This scan creates better images of soft tissues like the quadriceps tendon. The MRI can show the amount of tendon that is torn and the location of the tear. Sometimes, an MRI is needed to rule out a different injury with similar symptoms.
TREATMENT OVERVIEW
There are both surgical and non-surgical treatments available to help get you healed as quickly as possible. Typically, if the quadriceps tendon is not fully torn, then non-surgical treatments are an excellent treatment option. But if the tendon is fully torn, then surgery will most likely be necessary.
NON-SURGICAL TREATMENTS
Most small, partial tears can heal with non-surgical treatments. The non-surgical treatments that work best for quadriceps tendon tears are:
- Immobilization. Keeping the tendon as still as possible will help allow it to heal. Immobilization can be done with a knee immobilizer or a brace. You will most likely need crutches to help you avoid putting all your weight on your leg. You can expect to be in a knee immobilizer or brace for 3 to 6 weeks.
- Physical Therapy. Once the initial pain and swelling have settled, physical therapy can begin. The purpose of physical therapy for a quadriceps tendon tear is to regain strength and range of motion. Your physician will help determine what physical therapy routine will help you heal the best.
SURGICAL TREATMENTS
Most people who completely tear their triceps tendon will need surgery to repair it. Surgical repair reattaches the torn tendon to the top of the kneecap. To reattach the tendon, sutures are placed in the tendon and then threaded through drill holes in the kneecap. The sutures tie to the bottom of the kneecap. Your surgeon will carefully tie the sutures to get the right tension in the tendon. This also makes sure the position of the kneecap closely matches that of your uninjured kneecap.
People who need surgery do better if the repair is performed as soon as possible after their injury. Early repair may prevent the tendon from scarring and tightening into a shortened position.
NEXT STEPS
Talk to your Florida Orthopaedic Institute physician today to learn more about quadriceps tendon tears.
Areas of Focus
- Knee & Leg
- ACL Injuries
- Arthroscopic Chondroplasty
- ConforMIS Knee Replacement
- Fractures Of The Tibial Spine
- Iliotibial Band Syndrome
- Lateral Collateral Ligament (LCL) Injuries
- MACI
- MAKO Knee Replacement Surgery
- Medial Collateral Ligament Injuries
- Meniscus Tears
- Muscle Spasms
- NAVIO Surgical System
- Partial Knee Replacement
- Patellar Fracture
- Quadriceps Tendon Tear
- Revision Knee Surgery
- ROSA® Knee Robotic Surgical Assistant
- Shin Splints
- Total Knee Replacement
- Verilast
The following Florida Orthopaedic Institute physicians specialize in Quadriceps Tendon Tear:
Specialties
- Achilles Tendinitis - Achilles Insertional Calcific Tendinopathy (ACIT)
- Achilles Tendon Rupture
- Achilles Tendonitis
- ACL Injuries
- ALIF: Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion Surgery
- Ankle Fracture Surgery
- Ankle Fractures (Broken Ankle)
- Ankle Fusion
- Arthritis & Adult Reconstruction Surgery
- Arthroscopic Chondroplasty
- Arthroscopic Debridement of the Elbow
- Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair
- Artificial Disc Replacement (ADR)
- Aspiration of the Olecranon Bursa
- Avascular Necrosis (Osteonecrosis)
- Back Surgery Types
- Bankart Repair
- Basal Joint Surgery
- Bicep Tendon Tear
- Bicep Tenodesis
- Bioinductive Implant
- Broken Collarbone
- Bunions
- Bursitis of the Shoulder (Subacromial Bursitis)
- Calcific Tendinitis of the Shoulder
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- CARTIVA® Implant For Big Toe Joint Arthritis
- Charcot Joint
- Chiropractic
- Colles’ Fractures (Broken Wrist)
- Community Outreach
- ConforMIS Knee Replacement
- Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
- De Quervain's Tenosynovitis
- Degenerative Disc Disease
- Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis (DISH)
- Discitis
- Dislocated Shoulder
- Dupuytren’s Disease
- Elbow
- Elbow Bursitis
- Elbow Injuries in Throwing Athletes
- Epidural Injections for Spinal Pain
- Finger Dislocation
- Flexor Tendonitis
- Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg
- Fractures Of The Shoulder Blade (Scapula)
- Fractures Of The Tibial Spine
- Functional Nerve Transfers of The Hand
- Ganglion Cysts
- General Orthopedics
- Glenoid Labrum Tear
- Golfer's Elbow
- Growth Plate Injuries Of The Elbow
- Hallux Rigidus - Cheilectomy
- Hand & Finger Replantation
- Hand & Upper Extremity
- Hand & Wrist
- Hand Nerve Decompression
- Hand Skin Grafts
- Hip & Thigh
- Hip Arthroscopy
- Hip Dislocation
- Hip Flexor Strains
- Hip Fractures
- Hip Hemiarthroplasty
- Hip Muscle Strains
- Hyperextension Injury of the Elbow
- Iliotibial Band Syndrome
- Interventional Pain Management
- Interventional Spine
- Intraarticular Calcaneal Fracture
- Knee & Leg
- Kyphosis
- Labral Tears Of The Hip (Acetabular Labrum Tears)
- Lateral Collateral Ligament (LCL) Injuries
- Lisfranc Injuries
- LITTLE LEAGUER'S ELBOW (MEDIAL APOPHYSITIS)
- MACI
- MAKO Knee Replacement Surgery
- MAKO Total Hip Replacement
- Mallet, Hammer & Claw Toes
- Medial Collateral Ligament Injuries
- Meniscus Tears
- Metatarsalgia
- Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
- Morton’s Neuroma
- Muscle Spasms
- NAVIO Surgical System
- Nerve Pain
- Neuromas (Foot)
- Olecranon Stress Fractures
- Orthopaedic Total Wellness
- Orthopedic Trauma
- Osteoarthritis of the Hip
- Osteoporosis
- Outpatient Spine Surgery
- Partial Knee Replacement
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- Pelvic Ring Fractures
- Peripheral Nerve Surgery (Hand) Revision
- Pinched Nerve
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Podiatrist or Orthopaedic Physician?
- Primary Care Orthopedics Sports Medicine
- PROstep™ Minimally Invasive Surgery for Bunions
- Quadriceps Tendon Tear
- Revascularization of the Hand
- Reverse Total Shoulder Replacement
- Revision Knee Surgery
- Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) of the Shoulder
- Rheumatoid Arthritis Of The Hand
- Robotics
- ROSA® Knee Robotic Surgical Assistant
- Sciatica
- Scoliosis
- Senior Strong
- Shin Splints
- Shoulder
- Shoulder Arthritis
- Shoulder Arthroscopy
- Shoulder Replacement
- Shoulder Socket Fracture (Glenoid Fracture)
- SLAP Tears & Repairs
- Spinal Fusion
- Spine
- Spondylolisthesis and Spondylolysis
- Sports Hernias (Athletic Pubalgia)
- Sports Medicine
- Sprained Ankle
- Sudden (Acute) Finger, Hand & Wrist Injuries
- Targeted Muscle Reinnervation (TMR)
- Tendon Transfers of The Hand
- Tennis Elbow
- Thigh Fractures
- Thigh Muscle Strains
- Total Ankle Replacement
- Total Hip Arthroplasty
- Total Hip Replacement - Anterior Approach
- Total Knee Replacement
- Triceps Tendonitis
- Trigger Finger
- UCL (Ulnar Collateral Ligament) Injuries
- Ulnar Neuritis
- Valgus Extension Overload
- Verilast
- Vertebroplasty
- WALANT (Wide Awake Local Anesthesia No Tourniquet)
- Whiplash and Whiplash Associated Disorder (WAD)
- Wrist Arthroscopy
- Wrist Fractures
- Wrist Sprains
- Wrist Tendonitis