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Quadriceps muscle rupture mimicking lumbar radiculopathy

  • Case Report
  • Published:
European Spine Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Study design

Case report.

Objective

To report an unusual case of vastus lateralis muscle rupture not accompanied by any history of major trauma or the presence of a risk factor in a patient with spinal stenosis.

Summary of background data

Isolated vastus lateralis muscle rupture without an obvious cause is very rare. Localized pain and claudication are the most common symptoms and can be misdiagnosed as lumbar radiculopathy.

Methods

A 70-year-old patient presented with right lower extremity and back pain, diagnosed as spinal stenosis. He was initially treated with caudal epidural block and transforaminal epidural block, which resulted in nearly complete relief of his symptoms. However, he subsequently experienced a pain that was no longer responsive to treatment. The ultrasonographic exam revealed a partial tear of the right vastus lateralis muscle.

Result

Injection of local anesthetics relieved the patient’s symptoms. At 1-month follow-up, he remained pain-free.

Conclusions

In patients with lower back and leg pain, physicians should consider non-spinal conditions that can cause signs and symptoms mimicking lumbar radiculopathy.

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Conflict of interest

None of the authors has any potential conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Soonchunhyang, Bucheon Hospital, 1174 Jung-Dong, Wonmi-Gu, Bucheon-Si, Gyeonggi-Do, 420-767, Korea

    Joon-Ho Lee, Sung-Hwan Cho, Sang-Hyun Kim, Won-Soek Chae & Hee-Cheol Jin

Authors
  1. Joon-Ho Lee
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  2. Sung-Hwan Cho
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  3. Sang-Hyun Kim
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  4. Won-Soek Chae
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  5. Hee-Cheol Jin
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Joon-Ho Lee.

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Lee, JH., Cho, SH., Kim, SH. et al. Quadriceps muscle rupture mimicking lumbar radiculopathy. Eur Spine J 21 (Suppl 4), 545–548 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-012-2191-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-012-2191-5

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