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Hamstring Harvest: Rehabilitation and Clinical Outcomes

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Hamstring and Quadriceps Injuries in Athletes

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Abstract

Multiple questions about the morbidity of semitendinosus and gracilis tendon harvest have arisen due to their popularity as grafts for numerous reconstructive procedures. The goal of this chapter is to review what is known about the morbidity of hamstring harvest and factors that affect this morbidity. Evidence is very limited with regard to the relationship between hamstring harvest and subsequent hamstring injury. While the studies demonstrate that having a previous ACL reconstruction puts one at risk for hamstring injury, the relationship appears independent of graft type. Loss of hamstring strength following harvest for ACL reconstruction is a major concern. Knee flexion strength loss following hamstring harvest is generally between 5 and 15 %, with the greatest deficits noted at greater flexion angles. There is currently little evidence demonstrating improved outcomes with gracilis preservation or contralateral hamstring harvest. There does seem to be a correlation between tendon regeneration and the resultant strength and diameter of the muscle, although the functional consequences of a failure of the tendons to regenerate are poorly defined. More work is necessary to completely understand potential adverse effects of hamstring harvest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedics, Sports Health and Performance Institute, The Ohio State University Medical Center, 2050 Kenny Road, Suite 3100, Columbus, OH, 43221, USA

    Kyle Randall MD, Avijit Sharma BS & Robert A. Magnussen MD

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  1. Kyle Randall MD
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  2. Avijit Sharma BS
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  3. Robert A. Magnussen MD
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Correspondence to Robert A. Magnussen MD .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Judson Wilson Professor of Orthopedics, Director of Sports Medicine, Departments of Orthopedics and and Sports Medicine, Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA

    Christopher C. Kaeding

  2. Associate Clinical Professor, Departments of Family Medicine and Sports Medicine, Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA

    James R. Borchers

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Randall, K., Sharma, A., Magnussen, R.A. (2014). Hamstring Harvest: Rehabilitation and Clinical Outcomes. In: Kaeding, C., Borchers, J. (eds) Hamstring and Quadriceps Injuries in Athletes. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-7510-2_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-7510-2_7

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

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  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4899-7510-2

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