Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Spontaneous rupture of the distal iliopsoas tendon: clinical and imaging findings, with anatomic correlations

  • Musculoskeletal
  • Published:
European Radiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We report the clinical and imaging findings in two elderly female patients with spontaneous rupture of the distal iliopsoas tendon from the lesser trochanter of the femur. We emphasize the key contribution of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging to this diagnosis and provide an anatomic correlation. Spontaneous rupture of the distal iliopsoas tendon should be kept in mind in the differential diagnosis of acute groin pain in the elderly. MR imaging enables positive diagnosis, by showing mass effect on the anterior aspect of the hip joint, proximal muscle thickening, and abnormal signal intensity, and by demonstrating interruption of the psoas tendon, whereas the distal insertion of the lateral portion of the iliacus muscle remains muscular and is preserved.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Theologis TN, Epps H, Latz K, Cole WG (1997) Isolated fractures of the lesser trochanter in children. Injury 28:363–364

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Afra R, Boardman DL, Kabo JM, Eckardt JJ (1999) Avulsion fracture of the lesser trochanter as a result of a preliminary malignant tumor of bone. A report of four cases. J Bone Joint Surg Am 81:1299–1304

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. James SL, Davies AM (2005) Atraumatic avulsion of the lesser trochanter as an indicator of tumour infiltration. Eur Radiol, DOI: 10.1007/s00330-005-2675-3

  4. Chung CB, Robertson JE, Cho GJ, Vaughan LM, Copp SN, Resnick D (1999) Gluteus medius tendon tears and avulsive injuries in elderly women: imaging findings in six patients. Am J Roentgenol 173:351–353

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Traycoff RB (1991) “Pseudotrochanteric bursitis”: the differential diagnosis of lateral hip pain. J Rheumatol 18:1810–1812

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Bunker TD, Esler CN, Leach WJ (1997) Rotator-cuff tear of the hip. J Bone Joint Surg Br 79:618–620

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Shin AY, Morin WD, Gorman JD, Jones SB, Lapinsky AS (1996) The superiority of magnetic resonance imaging in differentiating the cause of hip pain in endurance athletes. Am J Sports Med 24:168–176

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Testut L, Latarjet A (1946) Myologie. In: Testut L, Latarjet A (eds) Traité d’anatomie humaine. Doin, Paris, pp 977–992

    Google Scholar 

  9. Tatu L, Parratte B, Vuillier F, Diop M, Monnier G (2001) Descriptive anatomy of the femoral portion of the iliopsoas muscle. Anatomical basis of anterior snapping of the hip. Surg Radiol Anat 23:371–374

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Li XX, Schweitzer ME, Bifano JA, Lerman J, Manton GL, El Noueam KI (1999) MR evaluation of subscapularis tears. J Comput Assist Tomogr 23:713–717

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Kohaus H, Peters P, Strunk E (1980) Rupture of the iliopsoas muscle. Symptoms and differential diagnosis. Unfallheilkunde 83:127–129

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Falchook FS, Zlatkin MB, Erbacher GE, Moulton JS, Bisset GS, Murphy BJ (1994) Rupture of the distal biceps tendon: evaluation with MR imaging. Radiology 190:659–663

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Logan PM, Janzen DL, Connell DG (1996) Tear of the distal biceps tendon presenting as an antecubital mass: magnetic resonance imaging appearances. Can Assoc Radiol J 47:342–346

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Dominique Mustur, a medical student, for much appreciated help with the literature search, especially in German.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, Saint Luc University Hospital, Université Catholique de Louvain, Hippocrate Avenue 10/2942, 1200, Brussels, Belgium

    Frederic E. Lecouvet, Bruno C. Vande Berg & Jacques Malghem

  2. Department of Bone Radiology and Laboratory of Anatomy, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Lille, 59037, Lille, France

    Xavier Demondion

  3. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Saint Luc University Hospital, Université Catholique de Louvain, Hippocrate Avenue 10/2950, 1200, Brussels, Belgium

    Thibaut Leemrijse

  4. Department of Rheumatology, Saint Luc University Hospital, Université Catholique de Louvain, Hippocrate Avenue 10/5390, 1200, Brussels, Belgium

    Jean-Pierre Devogelaer

Authors
  1. Frederic E. Lecouvet
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Xavier Demondion
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Thibaut Leemrijse
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Bruno C. Vande Berg
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Jean-Pierre Devogelaer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Jacques Malghem
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Frederic E. Lecouvet.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Lecouvet, F.E., Demondion, X., Leemrijse, T. et al. Spontaneous rupture of the distal iliopsoas tendon: clinical and imaging findings, with anatomic correlations. Eur Radiol 15, 2341–2346 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-005-2811-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-005-2811-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation