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Case Reports
. 2023 Sep 12;15(9):e45141.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.45141. eCollection 2023 Sep.

Traumatic Isolated Avulsion Rupture of the Distal Semitendinosus Tendon in a Non-athlete

Abdelrafour Houdane  1 , Rana K Othman  1 , Haroon A Javaid  1 , Abdullah M Taha  1 , Islam M Ahmmed  2 , Ahmed E Maklad  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Traumatic Isolated Avulsion Rupture of the Distal Semitendinosus Tendon in a Non-athlete

Abdelrafour Houdane et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

Isolated distal semitendinosus (ST) injuries remain an uncommon hamstring injury, with avulsion ruptures reported even less frequently. These injuries occur due to eccentric overloading seen in sprinting or jumping injuries. Treatment ranges from conservative management to surgical tenotomy or reattachment to the tibial bone. We present a unique case of a 30-year-old male with an isolated avulsion rupture of the distal ST tendon after a fall. To our knowledge, this is the first case reported in the literature of an isolated distal ST injury in a non-athlete due to trauma.

Keywords: avulsion; distal semitendinosus injury; hamstring tendon; hamstring tendons (semitendinosus and gracilis); non-athlete; rupture; semitendinosus tendon; tendon.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Axial T1 magnetic resonance imaging: Distal third left thigh level.
Thickening of the distal third of the left semitendinosus tendon (blue arrow) in comparison to the normal appearance of the right semitendinosus tendon (green arrow).
Figure 2
Figure 2. Axial T2 magnetic resonance imaging: Distal third left thigh level.
The left semitendinosus tendon (yellow arrow) is slightly thickened and inhomogeneous. A small fluid collection surrounds the tendon.
Figure 3
Figure 3. Axial short-T1 inversion recovery magnetic resonance imaging: Left knee level.
High signal fluid collection (yellow arrow) surrounding the thickened ruptured semitendinosus tendon, extending into the medial aspect of the upper calf muscle region.
Figure 4
Figure 4. Coronal short-T1 inversion recovery magnetic resonance imaging shows retraction of the ruptured left semitendinosus tendon (red arrow) with high signal fluid collection as well as overlying high signal subcutaneous edematous changes. Note the normal appearance of the right semitendinosus distal tendon (blue arrow).
Figure 5
Figure 5. Sagittal T2 magnetic resonance imaging.
The left knee joint shows a rupture of the semitendinosus tendon (blue arrow) with distal fluid collection.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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