Rupture of quadriceps tendon in a patient with postanoxic choreoathetosis

Purpose. To describe a case of quadriceps tendon rupture in a patient with postanoxic choreoathetotic movements.Case report: A 20-year-old man was admitted to a rehabilitation hospital after anoxic brain injury. As a result of the injury, he developed continuous flowing choreoathetotic movements. He contracted fever and swollen and painful right knee, and only when periarticular edema decreased did a suprapatellar gap appear and quadriceps tendon rupture was diagnosed.Conclusions: Considering the possibility of tendon rupture when evaluating a patient with non-volitional movements and ‘arthritic’ presentation in a rehabilitation setting, may prevent delay of quadriceps surgical repair.