Acute Calcific Tendinitis of the Rectus Femoris

Abstract

W e report six caucasian patients who had acute pain in the hip and marked limitation of all movements of the joint. Plain radiographs and CT of the pelvis showed calcification within the reflected head of rectus femoris. All six responded to accurate CT-controlled injections of corticosteroid and local anaesthetic with dramatic and prolonged pain relief, although one required a second injection for recurrence of symptoms after two months.

Endoscopic Surgical Removal of Calcific Tendinitis of the Rectus Femoris: Surgical Technique

“…4 Calcific tendinitis has been reported in many anatomic regions, the shoulder being the most frequently affected. 6,17 The hip region is also a common location, although the rectus femoris muscle is rarely affected. 12,14 The rectus femoris has a straight head that originates from the anterior inferior iliac spine and a reflected head that originates at the ilium above the acetabulum.…”

“…1 Calcific tendinitis of the rectus femoris (CTRF), first recognized in 1967 by King and Vanderpool, 2 is a rare disease, 3 but a few cases have been reported. [4][5][6][7][8] The etiology is not clear and seems to be multifactorial: Traumatic, 1 genetic, 9 and local metabolic factors 10 have been postulated as mechanisms of calcific tendinitis.…”

“…12 Further invasive alternatives are used when conservative therapy fails, 13 with treatment options including local steroid or anesthetic injections, 6,8 open surgical removal, 11 or endoscopic removal. 7,14,15 Arthroscopic resection provides a minimally invasive technique for removal of intractable CTRF and has a rapid recovery.…”

Arthroscopic excision of heterotopic calcification in a chronic rectus femoris origin injury: a case report

“…3 A careful assessment of the patient's presentation and investigations is therefore required to reach the correct diagnosis. This case illustrates that arthroscopic surgery is a feasible option in such cases and allows a rapid recovery.…”

“…Computed tomography and MRI often show signal changes in the injured tendon(s) consistent with partial or complete tears, retraction and buckling of the tendon(s) in complete tears, avulsion fractures and calcification in chronic cases, and they can rule out other hip pathology. [1][2][3] In the acute phase following trauma, treatment can either be conservative or surgical repair. Conservative treatment includes rest, elevation and anti-inflammatories while maintaining the leg in extension and allowing quadriceps isometric exercises.…”