Association of Lumbar Spine Pathology and Hamstring Injury Diagnosis – A Retrospective Matched Cohort Study

Objective: To determine whether there is an association between hamstring injury diagnosis and clinical lumbar spine pathology. Design: Retrospective analysis of a matched cohort of patients with and without a diagnosis of hamstring injury. Setting: Cone Health System–affiliated clinics, urgent cares, and emergency departments. Patients: In total, 1269 patients identified in EPIC records with a diagnosis of hamstring injury; a control group of 1269 demographically matched patients who did not have a diagnosis of hamstring injury. Interventions: Chart review of patients to assess for lumbar spine pathology in those with and without prior hamstring injury. Outcome Measures: Odds ratio (OR) of having lumbar spine pathology in the hamstring injury group and the control group. OR of having lumbar spine pathology based on other demographics. Results: Patients with a diagnosis of hamstring injury had an OR of 1.84 for having lumbar spine pathology. Of other variables, only BMI > 30 had a positive OR of 1.35. Likelihood of lumbar spine pathology does increase steadily in all age groups. Conclusions: Patients with a history of hamstring injury are 84% more likely to have lumbar spine pathology than a matched cohort without a history of injury. Hamstring injury was a stronger predictor of lumbar spine pathology than BMI, age, or other variables.