Cohen et al identified risk factors associated with a prolonged recovery following a hamstring injury. The authors are from Thomas Jefferson University and the University of Pittsburgh.
Patient selection: athlete with hamstring injury
Outcome: delayed recovery (missing 3+ games if a professional football player)
Risk factors for a delayed recovery:
(1) multiple muscles injured
(2) injury distal to the musculotendinous junction
(3) injury to the short head of the biceps femoris
(4) retraction
(5) circumferential edema
(6) > 75% involvement of a cross-section (on T2-weighted MRI)
(7) severe injury on MRI (Grade III of III or MRI score > 15 out of 19)
where:
• Grade III injury is defined by other risk factors (items 5 and 6)
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