Distal Hamstring, Pes Anserine, and Popliteal Tendons

While posterior knee injuries in isolation are rare, they certainly can cause persistent pain and disability when overlooked. In addition, posterior knee region anatomy is complex and tendon injuries in this area can easily be mistaken as an intra-articular pathology. Awareness of posterior knee region tendon injuries allows health care providers to effectively manage these pathologies without delay in care. This chapter discusses the posterior knee tendon anatomy, pathologies, work up, and management. The majority of treatments for most tendon lesions in this area are non-surgical although surgical intervention is discussed.