Scintigraphy of an avulsion injury of the rectus femoris muscle

A 29-year-old man required bone scintigraphy after a 2-month history of a painful lump in the right lateral hip after falling from a height onto his outstretched right leg. Results of initial plain radiographs at the time of the injury were reported as normal. Subsequent plain radiographs and computed tomographs (CT) obtained before the bone scan showed calcification in the proximal rectus femoris tendon on the right side. Bone scintigraphy was planned to assess the maturity of the heterotopic bone formation within the hematoma before surgical excision to improve the range of hip motion. This is a rare complication of an avulsion injury of the rectus femoris muscle, with no previous scintigraphic reports of its appearance.