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Study: Patients satisfied after hamstring avulsion repair, but concerned about further injury
Most patients with proximal hamstring avulsions who underwent surgical repair reported satisfaction with the surgery; however, they also did not trust their operated leg during physical activity, according to results of this study.
“In this study, using both validated self-reported and performance-based outcome measures after surgical repair of proximal hamstring avulsions, minor pain and limitations to activities of daily living were seen,” Heléne Engberg Skaara, PT, MSc, and colleagues wrote in the study abstract. “Isokinetic hamstring strength in the operated leg was significantly lower compared with the nonoperated leg, and a majority of the patients did not trust the operated leg completely during physical activity.”
The researchers retrospectively reviewed 36 patients from 3 hospitals at mean 30-month follow-up who had a proximal hamstring avulsion repair, according to the abstract. Of these patients, 28 repairs were performed less than 4 weeks after injury and 3 repairs were for chronic conditions. Ruptures of all 3 tendons occurred in 17 cases.
After repair, most patients had little or no pain or limitations during activities of daily living and 29 patients were satisfied with the surgery, with 18 patients returning to pre-injury levels, according to the abstract. The mean Lower Extremity Functional Scale score was 89%.
However, the researchers found significant differences in mean hamstring strength and single-legged hop test between the operated and contralateral leg. They noted 22 patients expressed concern about sustaining a hamstring injury and “did not trust their operated leg during physical activities,” according to the abstract.
Disclosure: The authors received funding from The Norwegian Fund for Post-Graduate Training in Physiotherapy and the Foundation for the Promotion of Sports Medicine and Sports Physiotherapy in Norway.