The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery

Image Quiz

Trauma to the Knee¹
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Discussion

This sagittal fat-suppressed T2-weighted image shows a rupture of the quadriceps tendon with distraction of the tendon edges. Note also the high T2 signal intensity in the region of the rupture. This is compatible with fluid, edema, and hemorrhage, which suggests an acute, rather than a chronic, injury.

Reference

1. Khanna AJ, Cosgarea AJ, Mont MA, Andres BM, Domb BG, Evans PJ, Bluemke DA, Frassica FJ. Magnetic resonance imaging of the knee. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2001;83(Suppl 2 Part 2):136.