Watch A/Prof Karl Ng accept the research grant award and hear a bit about the project.
Project Summary:
The hamstring muscles are located in the back of the thigh and connect one of the pelvic bone prominences (ischium) to the muscle insertions in the leg below the knee. Sometimes these muscles can contract very strongly, and if the musculotendinous insertion at the top end breaks, this is called an avulsion.
Standard good practice is to attempt a surgical repair of this injury. However, location of the break is very close to other vital nerve structures such as the sciatic nerve, a major nerve that innervates the leg. This can complicate attempts to repair this tear. Our research team has often observed injuries to the sciatic trunk but quite often its branches. This can occur both before but usually after surgery.
Further complicating our understanding of these injuries is the fact that MRI of the area has yielded confusing appearances. For example, imaging changes in the hamstring muscles may be due to trauma, disuse or even damage to nerves supplying these muscles.
Our team will look at the frequency of these nerve injuries and discern them from the trauma caused by injury from the complications of surgery. We will compare the presence of denervation using neurophysiology vs MRI, and use clinical scores of disability, to identify the clinical significance of the injuries. This will inform the development of measures to improve outcomes after hamstring avulsion and surgical repair.
The Brain Foundation is dedicated to funding the next generation of Australian research into brain disorders, diseases, and injuries, with the ultimate goal of advancing diagnoses, treatments, and patient outcomes.