The quadratus femoris muscle anatomy: Do we know everything?

Introduction

The purpose of this study was to characterize the morphological variations in the quadratus femoris muscle (QF) and to create an anatomical classification that could be used in the planning of surgical procedures in this area, radiological imaging, and rehabilitation.

Materials and methods

Ninety-two lower limbs from 46 cadavers, fixed in 10 % formalin solution, were examined.

Results

The QF muscle was present in all specimens. According to morphology, the QF muscle was classified into three types. The most common type was Type I, characterized by one muscular belly (78.3 %), while the second most common type was Type II, characterized by two bellies, was observed in 17.4 % of cases. The rarest type was Type III. It was characterized by three bellies and was found in 4.3 % of the cases.

Conclusions

The current classification system on quadratus femoris morphological variability is novel. Morphological variants may contribute to clinical issues, such as the ischiofemoral impingement syndrome, that could arise from type I quadratus femoris. Hence, the current study may be applicated to planning surgical procedures, imaging, and rehabilitation.