Surgical treatment of partial tears of the proximal origin of the hamstring muscles

Lasse Lempainen ^1*, Janne Sarimo ², Jouni Heikkilä ², Kimmo Mattila ³ and Sakari Orava ²

¹ Satakunta Central Hospital, Pori and Mehiläinen Sports Trauma Research Center, Turku, Finland, Finland
² Mehiläinen Sports Trauma Research Center, Turku, Finland, Finland
³ Department of Radiology, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland, Finland

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: lasse.lempainen{at}utu.fi.

Accepted 24 May 2006

Abstract

Objective: Hamstring injuries are common especially among athletes. Partial and complete tears of the proximal origin may cause pain and functional loss. The objective of this study was to evaluate the results of surgical treatment in partial proximal hamstring tears.

Methods: Between 1994 and 2005 a total of 47 athletes (48 cases, 1 bilateral) with partial proximal hamstring tears were operated at our center. The cases were retrospectively analyzed. Prior to surgery 42 of the patients had undergone conservative treatment with unsatisfactory results whereas in five patients the operation was performed within four weeks from the injury.

Results: The mean length of the follow-up was 36 months (range, 6 to 72). The result of the operation was rated excellent in 33 cases, good in 9 cases, fair in 4 cases and poor in 2 cases. Forty-one patients were able to return to their pre-injury level of sports after an average of 5 months (range, 1 to 12).

Conclusion: In most cases excellent or good results can be expected after surgical repair of partial proximal hamstring tears even after conservative treatment has failed.

Key Words: hamstring, muscle, partial tear, sports injury, surgical treatment

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