Hamstring Repair Surgery
What Is a Hamstring Muscle?
Hamstring muscles are the group of three muscles that run along the back of your thigh.
They consist of the biceps femoris, semitendinosus and semimembranosus, which form prominent tendons across and down the back of the knee. As group, these muscles act to extend at the hip, and flex at the knee.
The hamstring muscles are not used much while standing or walking, but they're very active during activities that involve bending the knee, such as running, jumping and climbing.
What is a Hamstring Injury
A hamstring injury is normally a traumatic injury involving a
- strain tear to the tendons or large muscles at the back of the thigh
- partial tear to the tendons or large muscles at the back of the thigh
- complete tear to the tendons or large muscles at the back of the thigh.
This can occur when you pull one of your hamstring muscles. It is normally involved
During a hamstring strain, one or more of these muscles gets overloaded.
What is a Hamstring Repair Surgery?
Hamstring Repair Surgery is required in cases where either
- a conservative treatment has not resolved the Hamstring Injury, or
- the nature of the problem is a severe muscle tear,
Severe Hamstring Injuries or Avulsion injuries include incidences where the tendon has pulled completely away from the bone. Sometimes, the tendon or ligament may pull or damage a piece of bone.
Hamstring Avulsions occur rarely and are often difficult to differentiate from strains or muscle tears.
When is Hamstring Repair Surgery is Indicated
Hamstring avulsion is a serious injury and Hamstring Repair Surgery is indicated when the the following is required:
- Reattachment at the hamstring muscles or tendons to the pelvis or shinbone
- Muscle Repair after a severe tear
More specifically when:
- Multiple tendon ruptures with more than two centimeters of retraction
- Complete rupture of all three tendons
- Unresolved loss of hamstring power with sciatic nerve involvement or impingement
- Severe Avulsion in young athlete
Surgery is not commonly performed for tears within the muscle core or muscle belly.
