Rehabilitation Approach After Surgical Repair of Spontaneous Bilateral Quadriceps Tendon Rupture in a Healthy Mason.

Quadriceps tendon rupture is a rare lesion, occurring most frequently in males older than 60 yrs after a fall or trauma and associated with systemic diseases and risk factors. Bilateral injury is even more uncommon and disabling. The authors report a case of spontaneous bilateral quadriceps tendon rupture, nonsimultaneous (8 days apart), in a healthy 54-yr-old black male mason, that may be work related. The patient was included in a 6-mo rehabilitation program after surgical repair. Pain control and gait reacquisition were particularly difficult. Following the customized and phased rehabilitation program, the patient achieved the 6-mo functional outcomes reported for unilateral rupture. The authors highlight the rehabilitation specificities and challenges of the bilateral lesion and discuss the pathophysiological role of prolonged periods of working in repetitive quadriceps overuse postures on quadriceps tendon rupture.