Proximal Hamstring Tear

Anatomy of the Hamstring Muscles

The hamstrings are a group of three thigh muscles that extend from the pelvis to the knee joint. They include the:

• Bicep femoris
• Semitendinosus
• Semimembranosus

These muscles help in extending your leg and bending your knee. Therefore, any damage to the hamstring muscle group affects both hip and knee movements.

Hamstring Injury

Hamstring injuries are common sports injuries. Injury to the hamstring muscles or tendons may occur in the following ways:

• Musculotendinous junction injury: A tear at the junction where the muscle joins the tendon.
• Tearing of the muscle: Tearing of the belly of the muscle may take place.
• Proximal hamstring injury: Separation of the proximal hamstring tendons from the bone.

Causes of Hamstring Injury

Hamstring injuries primarily occur when the muscle is exposed to extreme strain; when it is stretched beyond its ability or when it must withstand a sudden load. This is commonly seen while sprinting – the hamstring muscles must bear the body’s entire weight and experience extreme contraction as you push off the ground to move forward.

The factors that may increase your risk of hamstring injuries may include:

• Tight muscles due to lack of stretching exercises may cause injury.
• Imbalance in the strengths of the different muscle groups (contracting and expanding) in your leg for the same movement.
• Muscle fatigue, which lowers the ability of the muscles to absorb energy.
• Activities such as dancing which requires different movements may cause injury.
• Sports activities such as sprinting, basketball, football, and soccer.
• Incomplete healing of a previous injury to the hamstring muscle group.
• Adolescent athletes are more prone to injury as their bones grow faster than muscles.

Symptoms of Proximal Hamstring Injuries

The symptoms of proximal hamstring injury include:

• Sudden sharp pain behind your thigh during activity
• A pop sound following injury
• Swelling and tenderness of the affected area
• Discoloration or bruising behind your leg, just below the knee

Diagnosis of Proximal Hamstring Injury

When you visit the clinic for pain in your thigh region, your doctor will review your medical history and perform a thorough physical examination of your leg. In addition, imaging tests such as X-rays and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are ordered to identify and confirm the injury to the proximal hamstring.

Proximal Hamstring Repair

Proximal hamstring injuries can usually be treated with non-surgical options such as the RICE protocol, immobilization, and physical therapy.

However, avulsion injuries and complete muscle tears require surgery to repair the torn tissue. Proximal hamstring repair may involve the following steps:

• You are administered general anesthesia and made to lie on your stomach.
• An incision is made (about 8cm) along the pelvic bone to expose the hamstring tendons.
• The sciatic nerve, which extends from the buttocks towards the thigh region, is identified and dissected from surrounding tissue.
• Any scar tissue is removed.
• The torn proximal hamstring tendon is pulled back into place and secured to the bone with the help of sutures or staples.
• Your doctor examines the integrity of your muscles with the bone and closes the incision.

Proximal hamstring injuries can usually be treated with non-surgical options such as the RICE protocol, immobilization, and physical therapy.

However, avulsion injuries and complete muscle tears require surgery to repair the torn tissue. Proximal hamstring repair may involve the following steps:

• You are administered general anesthesia and made to lie on your stomach.
• An incision is made (about 8cm) along the pelvic bone to expose the hamstring tendons.
• Alternatively, the tear may be performed with the use of an arthroscope, or a small camera, which is placed through small key-hole incisions to repair the torn hamstring. Certain tears are amenable to an arthroscopic repair which minimizes scar tissue, incision size and potentially the post-surgical pain and recovery time.

Postoperative Care

Following surgery,

• The post-surgical recovery for a proximal hamstring repair involves at least 6 weeks of restricted weight bearing with crutches of an assistive device and possibly a hip brace. This helps protect the early healing process of the tendon to bone.
• Physical therapy will be important in restoring post-surgical hamstring strength and range of motion of the hip and knee.
• You are not allowed to lift heavy objects or perform any activity that may stress your hamstring muscles for about 6 to 8 weeks.
• Return to full sports activities may take you about 6 months for complete recovery. Your doctor will let you know when you can return to your sport.

Why Choose Dr. J. Pieter Hommen at OrthoMiami for Your Hip Arthroscopy?

Dr. J. Pieter Hommen is a fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon with advanced expertise in minimally invasive hip preservation and hip arthroscopy with over 20 years of hip arthroscopy experience. His approach is centered on precision, careful patient selection, and restoring long-term hip function—not simply operating for the sake of surgery.

Dr. Hommen treats the full spectrum of intra-articular and peri-articular hip conditions using modern arthroscopic techniques, including femoroacetabular impingement (FAI), labral tears, tendon injuries, and complex sources of deep gluteal and sciatic pain. His experience extends beyond the hip joint itself to surrounding structures such as the gluteal tendons, proximal hamstring origin, piriformis tendon, and peritrochanteric space—areas that are frequently overlooked but often responsible for persistent symptoms.

A key distinction of Dr. Hommen’s philosophy is his commitment to hip preservation. Whenever possible, he emphasizes non-operative treatment and structured rehabilitation. Surgery is recommended only when it is clearly indicated and likely to improve function and quality of life. When arthroscopy is performed, it is done with meticulous attention to anatomic detail to minimize tissue disruption and optimize recovery.

Patients choose Dr. Hommen for his:

• Fellowship training and specialized focus on hip arthroscopy
• Expertise in both joint and extra-articular hip pathology
• Thoughtful, evidence-based decision-making
• Minimally invasive, tissue-sparing surgical techniques
• Clear communication and individualized care plans

Whether treating athletes, active adults, or patients with complex hip pain, Dr. Hommen’s goal is consistent: to relieve pain, restore strength and mobility, and help patients safely return to the activities they enjoy.