Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Semimembranosus muscle herniation: a rare case with emphasis on muscle biomechanics

  • Case Report
  • Published:
Skeletal Radiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Muscle herniations are rare and most reported cases involve muscles of the lower leg. We use a case of muscle herniation involving the semimembranosus muscle, presenting as a painful mass in an adolescent male after an unspecified American football injury, to highlight a simple concept of muscle biomechanics as it pertains to muscle hernia(s): decreased traction upon muscle fibers can increase conspicuity of muscle herniation(s)—this allows a better understanding of the apt provocative maneuvers to employ, during dynamic ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging, in order to maximize diagnostic yield and, thereby, limit patient morbidity related to any muscle herniation. Our patient subsequently underwent successful decompressive fasciotomy and has since returned to his normal daily activities.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Richet. Traite d’anatomie chir. 1853; 124:(Cited by Choux).

  2. De Maeseneer M, Shahabpour M, Lenchik L, Milants A, De Ridder F, De Mey J, et al. Distal insertions of the semimembranosus tendon: MR imaging with anatomic correlation. Skelet Radiol. 2014;43:781–91.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Goldberg HC, Comstock GW. Herniation of muscles of the legs. War Med. 1944;5:365–7.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Ihde H. On muscular hernia of the leg. Acta Chir Scand. 1929;65:97–120.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Kitchin IDRDA. Multiple muscle herniae. BMJ. 1943;1:602–3.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  6. McMaster PE. Muscle hernia of the leg: a study of 21 cases and 38 hernias. US Nav Med Bull. 1943;41:404–9.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Mellado JM, Pérez del Palomar L. Muscle hernias of the lower leg: MRI findings. Skelet Radiol. 1999;28:465–9.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Nguyen JT, Nguyen JL, Wheatley MJ, Nguyen TA. Muscle hernias of the leg: a case report and comprehensive review of the literature. Can J Plast Surg. 2013;21:243–7.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  9. Schaefer WB. Nontraumatic tears of the tibial fascia. Mil Surg. 1943;93:308–10.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Sherry RH. Herniation of peroneus brevis muscle: report of a case. Bull Hosp Dis. 1942; 69–72.

  11. Simon HE, Sacchet HA. Muscle hernias of the leg: review of literature and report of twelve cases. Am J Surg. 1945;67:87–97.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Hesse Zur Frage der Radikaloperation der Hern en des Muscul tibialis anticus. (Russian orig) Ref Zentralorgan fur Chir. 1921; 271.

  13. Harrington AC, Mellette JR. Hernias of the anterior tibialis muscle: case report and review of the literature. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1990;22:123–4.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Marques A, Brenda E, Amarante MT. Bilateral multiple muscle hernias of the leg repaired with Marlex mesh. Br J Plast Surg. 1994;47:444–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Zeiss J, Ebraheim NA, Woldenberg LS. Magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of anterior tibialis muscle herniation. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1989; 249–53.

  16. Koulouris G, Connell D. Hamstring muscle complex: an imaging review. Radiographics. 2005;25:571–86.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. De Smet AA. Magnetic resonance findings in skeletal muscle tears. Skelet Radiol. 1993;22:479–84.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. De Smet AA, Fisher DR, Heiner JP, Keene JS. Magnetic resonance imaging of muscle tears. Skelet Radiol. 1990;19:283–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Govindarajan A, Inigo A. Tibialis anterior muscle hernia: a rare differential of a soft tissue tumour. BMJ Case Rep. 2015; 2015.

  20. Yochim SE, Jose J, Clifford PD. Muscle herniation of the extremity. Am J Orthop (Belle Mead NJ). 2010;39:95–6.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Lee H-S, James M. Painful bilateral herniation of the anterior tibial muscle: a case report. Foot Ankle Int. 2006;27:552–5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Miniaci A, Rorabeck CH. Compartment syndrome as a complication of repair of a hernia of the tibialis anterior: a case report. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1986;68:1444–5.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Dawar AK, Dawar R, Gawri KGV. Tibialis anterior muscle hernia: a rare cause of leg pain. JCR. 2012;2:42–4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Henning PT, Dahm DL, Smith J. Use of postexercise ultrasonography to identify a symptomatic extensor digitorum longus muscle hernia associated with running. PM R. 2009;1:1109–11.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Diagnostic Radiology, American University of Beirut, P.O. Box 11–0236, Riad El-Solh, Beirut, 1107 2020, Lebanon

    Lena Naffaa

  2. Saint Rita Medical Center, 730 W Market Street, Lima, OH, 45801, USA

    Hicham Moukaddam

  3. Department of Radiology, Hospital for Joint Disease, New York University, 301st 17th Street, Rm 600, New York, NY, 10003, USA

    Mohammad Samim

  4. San Diego School of Medicine, University of California, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0647, USA

    Aaron Lemieux

  5. Teleradiology & Education Center, University of California, San Diego, 8899 University Center Lane, Suite 370, San Diego, CA, 92122, USA

    Edward Smitaman

Authors
  1. Lena Naffaa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Hicham Moukaddam
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Mohammad Samim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Aaron Lemieux
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Edward Smitaman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mohammad Samim.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Funding

None.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Naffaa, L., Moukaddam, H., Samim, M. et al. Semimembranosus muscle herniation: a rare case with emphasis on muscle biomechanics. Skeletal Radiol 46, 373–378 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-016-2553-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-016-2553-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation