Skip to main content

Surgical Technique: Open Proximal Hamstring Repair

  • Reference work entry
  • First Online:
Hip Arthroscopy and Hip Joint Preservation Surgery

Abstract

The proximal hamstring is a common location for athletic injuries. A complete, three-tendon (semitendinosus, semimembranosus, long head biceps femoris) tear may occur in sports that involve eccentric contractions of the hamstrings with a rapid hip flexion and knee extension. Surgical treatment of multi-tendon tears with retraction in young active patients has demonstrated significantly better subjective and objective outcomes at short- and mid-term follow-up. A safe surgical approach is via the prone positioning, transverse or longitudinal skin incision, avoidance of the posterior femoral cutaneous nerve, exposure of the ischial tuberosity and proximal hamstring anatomic footprint, avoidance of the sciatic nerve (lateral to tuberosity), secure fixation via two or three double-loaded suture anchors, and meticulous hemostasis and closure. Chronic repair often requires extensive adhesiolysis, sciatic neurolysis, tendon mobilization, and possible allograft augmentation. Postoperative rehabilitation should avoid undue stress on the repair via avoiding hip flexion and knee extension.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 599.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 799.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Engebretsen A, Myklebust G, Holme I, Engebretsen L, Bahr R. Intrinsic risk factors for hamstring injuries among male soccer players. Engebretsen is Am J Sports Med 2010;38(6):1147–53.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Arnason A, Sigurdsson S, Gudmundsson A, Holme I, Engebretsen L, Bahr R. Risk factors for injuries in football. Am J Sports Med. 2004;32(Suppl):5S–16.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Harris JD, Griesser MJ, Best TM, Ellis TJ. Treatment of proximal hamstring ruptures – a systematic review. Int J Sports Med. 2011;32(7):490–5.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Witvrouw E, Danneels L, Asselman P, D’Have T, Cambier D. Muscle flexibility as a risk factor for developing muscle injuries in male professional soccer players: a prospective study. Am J Sports Med. 2003;31:41–6.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Klingele K, Sallay P. Surgical repair of complete proximal hamstring tendon ruptures. Am J Sports Med. 2002;30:742–7.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Wood D, Packham I, Trikha S, Linklater J. Avulsion of the proximal hamstring origin. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2008;90:2365–74.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Sallay PI, Friedman RL, Coogan PG, Garrett WE. Hamstring muscle injuries among water skiers. Functional outcome and prevention. Am J Sports Med. 1996;24(2):130–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Chahal J, Bush-Joseph CA, Chow A, Zelazny A, Mather RC, Lin E, et al. Clinical and magnetic resonance imaging outcomes after surgical repair of complete proximal hamstring ruptures: does the tendon heal? Am J Sports Med. 2012;40:2325–30.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Folsom GJ, Larson CM. Surgical treatment of acute versus chronic complete proximal hamstring ruptures: results of a new allograft technique for chronic reconstructions. Am J Sports Med. 2008;36(1):104–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Gidwani S, Bircher M. Avulsion injuries of the hamstring origin – a series of 12 patients and management algorithm. Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 2007;89:394–9.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Konan S, Haddad F. Successful return to high level sports following early surgical repair of complete tears of the proximal hamstring tendons. Int Orthop. 2010;34:119–23.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Miller SL, Gill J, Webb GR. The proximal origin of the hamstrings and surrounding anatomy encountered during repair. A cadaveric study. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2007;89(1):44–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Sarimo J, Lempainen L, Mattila K, Orava S. Complete proximal hamstring avulsions: a series of 41 patients with operative treatment. Am J Sports Med. 2008;36:1110–5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Folsom G, Larson C. Surgical treatment of acute versus chronic complete proximal hamstring ruptures- results of a new allograft technique for chronic reconstructions. Am J Sports Med. 2007;36:104–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Joshua D. Harris .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2015 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this entry

Cite this entry

Harris, J.D., Nho, S.J., Bush-Joseph, C.A. (2015). Surgical Technique: Open Proximal Hamstring Repair. In: Nho, S., Leunig, M., Larson, C., Bedi, A., Kelly, B. (eds) Hip Arthroscopy and Hip Joint Preservation Surgery. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6965-0_78

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6965-0_78

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-6964-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-6965-0

  • eBook Packages: MedicineReference Module Medicine

Publish with us

Policies and ethics