Smaller Ischiofemoral Space Is Associated With Proximal Hamstring Injuries
- 1The Hospital for Special Surgery New York New York U.S.A.
- 2Department of Orthopaedics Chulalongkorn University and King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital Bangkok Thailand
- 3University of Connecticut School of Medicine Farmington Connecticut U.S.A.
Abstract
Purpose: To develop a reference ischiofemoral space (IFS) value for patients with proximal hamstring injuries (HSI) and to compare it with individuals without proximal hamstring pathology.
Methods: We retrospectively collected the data from our institution. Patients aged 18 years or older with a proximal HSI were included. Patients with insufficient imaging data, those with prior hip surgery, those with concurrent femoroacetabular impingement syndrome, and those with concurrent ischiofemoral impingement as defined by quadratus femoris edema on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were excluded. A 1:2 matched‐cohort analysis was conducted. Two cohorts were (1) patients with proximal HSI and (2) patients with femoroacetabular impingement syndrome as a control cohort (Control). Both pelvic anteroposterior (AP) radiographs and axial MRI were used to assess IFS and were compared between the 2 cohorts. Additionally, the neck‐shaft angle was collected and compared.
Results: There were 60 patients in the HSI cohort and 124 patients in the control cohort. The mean neck‐shaft angle, IFS from the AP pelvis, and IFS from the axial MRI for the HSI cohort were 136.35° ± 5.63°, 24.35 ± 8.60 mm, and 26.57 ± 7.96 mm, respectively. For the control cohort, these values were 135.30° ± 4.53°, 29.83 ± 9.84 mm, and 29.28 ± 8.54 mm, respectively. The IFS in the HSI group was significantly lower than that in the control group on both pelvic AP radiograph (P < .001) and axial MRI (P = .036).
Conclusions: Patients with proximal HSI had a smaller IFS compared with those with femoroacetabular impingement syndrome.
Level of Evidence: Level III, retrospective cohort study.
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BibTeX
@article{itthipanichpong2026smaller,
title = {{Smaller Ischiofemoral Space Is Associated With Proximal Hamstring Injuries}},
author = {Thun Itthipanichpong and Julia Retzky and Patrick Curran and Samarth V. Menta and Anil S. Ranawat},
journal = {Arthroscopy, sports medicine, and rehabilitation},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1002/ars2.70141},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13723152},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Smaller Ischiofemoral Space Is Associated With Proximal Hamstring Injuries
AU - Thun Itthipanichpong
AU - Julia Retzky
AU - Patrick Curran
AU - Samarth V. Menta
AU - Anil S. Ranawat
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/31
JO - Arthroscopy, sports medicine, and rehabilitation
DO - 10.1002/ars2.70141
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13723152
AB - Purpose: To develop a reference ischiofemoral space (IFS) value for patients with proximal hamstring injuries (HSI) and to compare it with individuals without proximal hamstring pathology. Methods: We retrospectively collected the data from our institution. Patients aged 18 years or older with a proximal HSI were included. Patients with insufficient imaging data, those with prior hip surgery, those with concurrent femoroacetabular impingement syndrome, and those with concurrent ischiofemoral impingement as defined by quadratus femoris edema on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were excluded. A 1:2 matched‐cohort analysis was conducted. Two cohorts were (1) patients with proximal HSI and (2) patients with femoroacetabular impingement syndrome as a control cohort (Control). Both pelvic anteroposterior (AP) radiographs and axial MRI were used to assess IFS and were compared between the 2 cohorts. Additionally, the neck‐shaft angle was collected and compared. Results: There were 60 patients in the HSI cohort and 124 patients in the control cohort. The mean neck‐shaft angle, IFS from the AP pelvis, and IFS from the axial MRI for the HSI cohort were 136.35° ± 5.63°, 24.35 ± 8.60 mm, and 26.57 ± 7.96 mm, respectively. For the control cohort, these values were 135.30° ± 4.53°, 29.83 ± 9.84 mm, and 29.28 ± 8.54 mm, respectively. The IFS in the HSI group was significantly lower than that in the control group on both pelvic AP radiograph (P < .001) and axial MRI (P = .036). Conclusions: Patients with proximal HSI had a smaller IFS compared with those with femoroacetabular impingement syndrome. Level of Evidence: Level III, retrospective cohort study.
SN - 2666-061X
ER -