Hamstring T-Junction Surgical Repair: An Elite Footballer's Return to Play Journey Through a New Football-Centered Complex Approach.

BACKGROUND

Hamstring strain injuries have a significant impact in football, with a high re-injury rate, particularly when the distal musculotendinous T-junction (DMTJ) is involved. In some cases, surgical repair is necessary to reduce the risk of re-injury and ensure return to play (RTP) at the pre-injury level.

STUDY

DESIGN

Case Report.

CASE DESCRIPTION: A 24-year-old male football (soccer) player, playing in the Swiss first division, with recidivate hamstring injury, who undercame to surgical repair of DMTJ and returned to play through after 19 weeks. This case report introduces a new football-centered model divided into four main phases, showing how it guided the clinical reasoning used through the RTP process, along with MRI evaluations, clinical outcomes, global positioning system (GPS) data, and strength and power (S&P) neuromuscular testing.

OUTCOMES: The subject gradually returned to team training after 12 weeks and successfully returned to play after 19 weeks. The player participated in 26 official matches throughout the season, accumulating 1.323 minutes of play without reporting any symptoms at the injury site.

CONCLUSIONS

The subject had a successful return to play following the rehab model proposed in this case report, as he was involved in all the matches, and he played without any symptoms or new injuries.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 5.