From the Research
No, if the tendon of the piriformis muscle is cut, the muscle function will not be maintained. The piriformis muscle, which runs from the sacrum to the greater trochanter of the femur, primarily functions to externally rotate the hip when the hip is extended and assists with hip abduction when the hip is flexed. When a muscle's tendon is severed, the mechanical connection between the muscle belly and its insertion point on the bone is disrupted. This disconnection prevents the force generated by muscle contraction from being transmitted to the bone, rendering the muscle unable to produce movement at the joint. Without surgical repair of the cut tendon, the piriformis would be unable to perform its normal functions of hip external rotation and abduction. This would likely result in weakness with these movements and potential compensatory mechanisms by other external rotators of the hip such as the obturator muscles, gemelli, and quadratus femoris. According to a study published in 2020 1, even a small amount of retraction force can result in inadvertent piriformis muscle damage during a piriformis-sparing approach to the hip, highlighting the fragility of the piriformis tendon and the potential for damage during surgical procedures. Additionally, a study from 1992 2 found that repair of the piriformis tendon after total hip replacement is often unsuccessful, with 8 out of 10 repairs failing during the early postoperative period, further emphasizing the importance of preserving the integrity of the piriformis tendon to maintain muscle function. It is also worth noting that the anatomy of the piriformis muscle and its tendon is often inaccurately described in the current surgical literature, as highlighted in a study from 2013 3, which can lead to misunderstandings about the muscle's function and the potential consequences of cutting its tendon. Overall, the available evidence suggests that cutting the tendon of the piriformis muscle would likely result in a loss of muscle function, highlighting the importance of preserving the integrity of the tendon during surgical procedures. Some key points to consider include:
- The piriformis muscle plays a crucial role in hip external rotation and abduction
- Severing the tendon disrupts the mechanical connection between the muscle belly and its insertion point on the bone
- Without surgical repair, the piriformis would be unable to perform its normal functions
- Other external rotators of the hip may compensate for the loss of piriformis function, but this could lead to altered movement patterns and potential instability.