Surgery a Better Option for Treating Hamstring Tears

Patients treated surgically for a hamstring rupture demonstrated better results than those treated only with therapy, according to a new study.

Researchers at New England Baptist Hospital (NEBH; Boston, MA, USA) and the Boston Sports and Shoulder Center (Chestnut Hill, MA, USA) conducted a retrospective case-control study of 25 patients with a complete, retracted, proximal hamstring rupture. The primary outcome measure was lower extremity functional score (LEFS), with secondary outcome including the SF-12 physical and mental component scores, a single leg hop (average of three jumps), the patient’s perception of strength (0%–100%), and ability to return to activity.

All patients were offered surgery; of these, 14 patients were treated surgically, and 11 were treated without. The researchers included patients with acute proximal hamstring injuries in the study, while partial proximal hamstring tears and chronic injuries repairs were excluded. When compared to the uninjured leg, the average single leg hop in the injured leg was 5.1 and 1.2 cm shorter in both the surgical and non-surgical groups, respectively. Perception of strength and SF-12 mental and physical components were similar between groups. The study was presented at the American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) annual meeting, held during July 2015 in Orlando (FL, USA).

“Overall, patients in this study treated with surgery had a trend towards better lower extremity function, as well as a higher likelihood of returning to re-injury activities than those treated non-surgically,” concluded lead author and study presenter Joshua Olsen, MD, of NEBH. “The significant benefit for those treated surgically cannot be ignored. This information can help us in making future treatment recommendations to patients experiencing similar hamstring injuries.”

The hamstring muscle group controls leg extension and bending at the knee. Hamstring muscle injuries occur frequently in athletes, and are especially common in those who participate in sports that require sprinting such as track, soccer, and basketball. A pulled hamstring or strain is an injury to one or more of the four muscles at the back of the thigh. Most hamstring injuries respond well to simple, nonsurgical treatments. In the most severe hamstring injuries, the tendon tears completely away from the bone, and may even shear away part of bone.

Related Links:
New England Baptist Hospital
Boston Sports and Shoulder Center