RUPTURE OF THE ISCHIAL ORIGIN OF THE HAMSTRING MUSCLES

We treated eight patients who had complete rupture of the ischial orig in of the hamstring muscles. This uncommon injury results from a sudde n forceful flexion of the hip joint when the knee is extended and the hamstring muscles powerfully contracted. The injuries occurred during athletic exercise in six men and two women who had a mean age of 40 ye ars (range, 22 to 53). With prompt diagnosis and surgery the final fun ctional results in these patients were good. If the diagnosis is delay ed, it is not possible to accomplish a primary suture of the hamstring muscles to the ischial bone. Consequently, another surgical procedure will need to be performed to restore function. Unlike cases of bony a vulsion of the ischial apophysis in growing children, acute complete r upture of the proximal hamstring muscles origin in adults should be tr eated with prompt surgery.