Symptomatic snapping knee from biceps femoris tendon subluxation: an unusual case of lateral pain in a marathon runner.
Summary of "Symptomatic snapping knee from biceps femoris tendon subluxation: an unusual case of lateral pain in a marathon runner."
Snapping biceps femoris syndrome is an uncommon cause of lateral knee pain and may be difficult to diagnose, resulting in unsuccessful surgical intervention. In this report, we present an unusual case of a 37-year-old male marathon runner with unilateral snapping knee secondary to dislocation of the long head of the biceps femoris over the fibular head during knee flexion. The pain was great enough to interfere with his ability to practice sport. Possible causes of symptomatic snapping knee include multiple intra-articular or extra-articular pathology. Biceps femoris snapping over the fibular head is a rare condition. Reported causes include an anomalous insertion of the tendon into the tibia, trauma, and fibular-head abnormality. However, none of those conditions accounted for his symptoms. Failing conservative treatment, the patient underwent surgery for partial resection of the fibular head, with subsequent sudden resolution of symptoms and return to sport. Accurate knowledge and management of this rare condition is mandatory to avoid inappropriate therapy and unnecessary surgical procedures.
Affiliation
Department of Orthopaedics, Saint Mary Hospital, De Ferrariis 18/D, Bari, 70124, Italy, gvavalle@libero.it.
Journal Details
This article was published in the following journal.
Name: Journal of orthopaedics and traumatology : official journal of the Italian Society of Orthopaedics and Traumatology
ISSN: 1590-9999
Pages:
Links
- PubMed Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21127937
- DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10195-010-0117-8
Medical and Biotech [MESH] Definitions
Patellar Ligament
A band of fibrous tissue that attaches the apex of the PATELLA to the lower part of the tubercle of the TIBIA. The ligament is actually the caudal continuation of the common tendon of the QUADRICEPS FEMORIS. The patella is embedded in that tendon. As such, the patellar ligament can be thought of as connecting the quadriceps femoris tendon to the tibia, and therefore it is sometimes called the patellar tendon.
Quadriceps Muscle
The quadriceps femoris. A collective name of the four-headed skeletal muscle of the thigh, comprised of the rectus femoris, vastus intermedius, vastus lateralis, and vastus medialis.
Tenosynovitis
Inflammation of the synovial lining of a tendon sheath. Causes include trauma, tendon stress, bacterial disease (gonorrhea, tuberculosis), rheumatic disease, and gout. Common sites are the hand, wrist, shoulder capsule, hip capsule, hamstring muscles, and Achilles tendon. The tendon sheaths become inflamed and painful, and accumulate fluid. Joint mobility is usually reduced.
Tendon Transfer
Surgical procedure by which a tendon is incised at its insertion and placed at an anatomical site distant from the original insertion. The tendon remains attached at the point of origin and takes over the function of a muscle inactivated by trauma or disease.
Knee Injuries
Injuries to the knee or the knee joint.
PubMed Articles
Snapping knee associated with biceps femoris tendon that caused lateral knee pain is reported. The long head of the biceps femoris tendon had an anomalous tibial insertion in addition to the direct ar...
Snapping biceps femoris tendon: A dynamic real-time sonographic evaluation.
Snapping of the distal arms of the biceps femoris tendon may explain pain and discomfort at the lateral aspect of the knee. We report two cases in which dynamic sonography was able to confirm the diag...
Isolated avulsions involving the tendon of the biceps femoris muscle are rare injuries. Injury patterns are similar to those of posterolateral knee injuries mostly due to hyperextension and external r...
Ruptures of the adductor muscles, the m. rectus femoris or the m. biceps femoris are sports injuries which need quick and reliable diagnostic management. Treatment of muscle injuries is mostly conserv...
Isolated rupture of biceps femoris tendon.
Authors present a case of rupture of the distal end of the biceps femoris. Injuries at this site are relatively rare. Clinical assessment can be aided by instrumental examinations such as ultrasound a...
Clinical Trials
Accuracy of the Transpatellar Tendon Approach to Knee Arthrocentesis
The purpose of this study is: - To determine the accuracy of intraarticular placement with the transpatellar tendon approach as compared to the suprapatellar approach. Patients u...
Tight Achilles Tendon, Hyperpronation and Anterior Knee Pains
The purpose of the study is to investigate the prevalence of pain in the anterior part of the knee, amongst youngsters between 16 and 18 years of age. Furthermore, this trial intends to s...
Hamstrings Autograft Versus Tibialis Allograft for Reconstruction of Anterior Cruciate Ligament
Patients suffering from a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) with instability of the knee joint are treated with an operative ACL-reconstruction: one group of patients with a...
Patellar Tendon Regeneration With Platelet-rich Plasma
The central third of the patellar tendon is used as a donor site for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. After months or years the harvest site partially regenerates. The rege...
Stiff knee gait is a common gait dysfunction following acquired brain injury. This gait deviation is characterized by reduced knee flexion during swing phase of the gait cycle and adversel...
