quad tear

[injured_bolo]

hi - I know this is more about diagnosis than rehab but any help/advise would be appreciated.
I dislocated my knee 6 days ago, the USS results showed "no quad tendon tear, high suspicion medial retinaculum tear".
As the patella ended up on the lateral side of the leg I can understand that the medial side would be torn.

However today (6 days later), saw the consultant.
There was no pain in the quads nor any visible hole/lump but as I can't lift my leg up whilst liying he believes that the rectus femoris is injured. (I can lift the leg up a little when the leg is slightly flexed).

He said we could wait to see if it does get better but he would rather do an exploratory op and if there is a problem re-attach. Then he said it's 2 weeks in a full cast (which seems less than others here have faced?) I don't know what's after that...
I've had tendinitis in the quad tendon on and off for a while now (so maybe it was an accident waiting to happen).

The op might be for the best, but I'd rather not go down that route unless I have to.

Could the muscle/tendon still be sore from the dislocation? Or as it's 'inactive' (my words not his) does that mean it's a definite tear? (Odd that the USS didn't show it).
thanks for reading.

Similar Threads:

• Left Knee ACL tear and medial and lateral retinaculum tear
• Partial ACL Tear and MCL Tear
• Iron to Rugby - Quad tear
• MCL tear or Meniscus Tear?
• quad tear

[Vanc_WA_PT]

If there is no pain trying to lift the straight leg, it may just be muscle inhibition from the initial injury; try lifting the straight leg first from a standing position then gradually recline to add more gravity resistance, or have someone assist your lift while lying down until you can accomplish it on your own; if the quad was torn to the point of needing surgery then it's best not to wait, but if the only evidence for doing exploratory surgery is not being able to lift your leg up, then i'd work like the dickens to make it happen!

[injured_bolo]

thanks Vanc_WA_PT.
I can see improvements, swelling going down on the knee (still much bigger than other side) and there is much less pain.
I'll try the standing version of the leg raise to see if I can make progress before Friday. I take your point, although realistically unlikely if I can make significant progress they might not operate (although clearly if there is a tear this is for the best). thanks again.

[injured_bolo]

well I woke from the arthroscopy with a fixed quad tendon tear (good and bad I guess).

Looking at other forums some people get braces after the op whereas other get plaster casts - any views on either?
I would prefer brace as i can still wear shoes and get on with work albeit with crutches.

[Vanc_WA_PT]

Too bad you ended up with surgery, but it sounds like it went well; the type of immobilization is up to the surgeon from my experience but the more movement allowed, the better i'd say; good luck

[injured_bolo]

there's where I get confused from reading forums like this my percepction is in the US mobility starts earlier wherein the UK (where I live) it's standard to have the 6 weeks immobilsation - so 2 different approaches.
I understand that time is required for hte tendon to repair but as a sports person I'm not keen on the muscle atrophy and stiffness are 6 weeks of no movement.

Also any idea why they do a full plaster cast over the foot to the hip - why not just down to the ankle?

[Vanc_WA_PT]

I can only assume that if they want immobilization, then they REALLY want immobilization; you're right, going over the ankle seems overkill, but if you're allowed to rotate your ankle it may translate up to the knee and pull the quad(?); strange thing is that you can still put strain through the quad while in cast by doing an isometric contraction, so i don't really see the upside of full casting vs brace and stern warnings to rest it. Meanwhile, continue to exercise arms and other leg, if allowed by doc, to maintain as much strength as possible. I wish you a speedy recovery.

[injured_bolo]

thanks again for your response. I am a powerlifter so I endeavour to keep muscle in the upper body. Exactly I am a non-medical person but I've seen that enought people have been put into a Don Joy brace after doing a quad tear instead of a brace, so I will ask tomorrow just in case, trouble is here in the UK were have the NHS and they'll go for the cheapest option so I might have to go private to get the required treatment. thanks