Anterior Thigh Pain Differential Diagnoses

Differential

Quadriceps muscle contusion or strain (distal rectus femoris, or proximal rectus femoris), sartorius or gracilis muscle sprain
Myositis ossificans
Referred pain from upper lumbar spine, sacroiliac joint, or hip joint
- Lumbar Radicular Pain (L4)
- Lumbar plexopathy - weakness of hip adductors and flexors, abdominal wall pain
Stress fracture of femur
Avulsion of rectus femoris apophysis
Hip Nerve Entrapment Syndromes: Lateral cutaneous, femoral cutaneous, obturator
SUFE
Perthes disease
Acute compartment syndrome of the thigh
Endometriosis
Diabetic radiculopathy or plexopathy
Acute retroperitoneal haematoma or abscess
Iliacus Pyomyositis
Tumours of the femoral nerve, ilium, or iliopsoas muscle
Pseudoaneurysm of the iliac vessels
Vasculitis
Upper motor neuron lesion

Axial Skeleton	Neck Pain Thoracic Pain Low Back Pain Sacroiliac Pain Coccydynia
Upper Limbs	Sternoclavicular Joint Pain Shoulder Pain and Instability Elbow Pain Wrist Pain and Instability Neuropathic Arm Pain
Lower Limbs	Hip Pain Lateral Hip Pain Groin Pain Posterior Thigh Pain Buttock Pain Anterior Thigh Pain Knee Pain Calf Pain Ankle Pain Foot Pain Neuropathic Leg Pain
Other	Abdominal Wall Pain Chest Wall Pain Joint Hypermobility Vertigo Widespread Pain Anterior Throat Pain Arthritis Rheumatology Symptoms