[Rupture of the quadriceps tendon. Diagnosis and treatment of a rare injury].

Rupture of the quadriceps tendon is a rare knee injury. In most cases the tendon ruptures spontaneously without adequate trauma in patients older than 40 years with degenerative changes of the tendon. Suture repair is the only treatment option for acute complete, older ruptures and partial ruptures that do not heal after nonoperative treatment. The type of repair depends on the time of diagnosis and localisation of the rupture. The functional outcome depends on timely repair and early initiation of knee movement and strengthening therapy.