Dak Prescott | Proximal Hamstring Repair | Expert Opinion

Season-Ending Injury:

It’s official, Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboy’s quarterback suffered a torn hamstring in the football game against Atlanta. If you watched the game, it looked like a pretty painful injury, and it is.

What does a torn hamstring feel like?

A torn hamstring usually has the following symptoms:

• Intense pain at the time of injury
• Pain in the back of the thigh that can worsen when bending or straightening the leg
• Swelling
• Bruising
• Weakness in the muscles
• Feeling like the leg will give way
• Muscle spasms
• Stiffness
• A snapping or popping sound at the time of injury

How did they find out Dak had a torn hamstring?

Diagnosing a torn hamstring starts with asking about the location of pain and what happened during the injury. This is followed by a thorough physical exam which typically shows swelling and possible bruising over thigh, pain over the hamstring area, weakness on hamstring testing. The gold standard for diagnosing a hamstring injury is an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) which takes pictures inside the leg in small “slices” allowing the radiologist and orthopedic surgeon to see the damage.

What are the types of hamstring injuries?

The majority of hamstring injuries actually occur in the muscle itself which typically heal without surgery. Others can occur at the muscle and tendon junction which also, typically, heal without surgery. These require careful evaluation, sometimes imaging with MRI, and an excellent guided rehabilitation program to successfully return to sports.

It is reported that Dak suffered a partial avulsion (tear) of his right hamstring tendon from the bone which is the last type of tear. This is a severe injury because a portion of the tendon tears away from the bone, or attachment site. These injuries are generally thought about in order of severity:

• Mild: causes pain and tenderness, but the tendon remains intact and muscle strength is not affected.
• Partial: the tendon is partially torn from the bone and is more painful and is accompanied by swelling and bruising. There is also loss of strength.
• Full-thickness: the tendon is fully torn from the bone and is very painful, tender, bruised and swollen. It may be difficult to walk and muscle strength is affected.

Dr. Ronak Mukesh Patel offers expert proximal hamstring diagnosis and repair for patients in Sugar Land, Pearland, and the Houston, Texas area, who have experienced a proximal hamstring injury and are in need of surgical repair.

Did Dak Prescott need surgery for his torn hamstring?

It’s reported that Dak sought several opinions, which is very reasonable considering the injury. A proximal hamstring tendon tear is a less common type and thus appropriate in considering various opinions. This is common in not only sports but something that patient’s should consider when facing injuries that may require surgery. Dak ultimately decided to have proximal hamstring repair surgery. This seems to be an appropriate decision considering the importance of a fully functioning hamstring for a mobile, professional quarterback. This also signifies the severity of his injury.

Will Dak play football again?

The prognosis for the repair of a torn hamstring is generally excellent. There are several factors that will affect the outcome of his surgery which include:

• Time from injury to surgery
• Surgical repair
• Proper healing time
• A thorough physical therapy program
• Return to sport program

Professional athletes have access to outstanding care teams and rehabilitation which will put him in excellent position to make a successful comeback.

Expert Proximal Hamstring Repair in Houston, TX

You can learn more about hamstring tears and other football injuries that I treat here in Sugar Land, Pearland and the surrounding Houston, TX areas by reading my Football Injuries Blog.

If you have a question about your specific injury, or would like a second opinion, we are available for a consultation.