MRI Assesses Athletes’ Groin Injuries

Magnetic resonance imaging allows physicians to assess acute groin injuries among athletes.

Standardized magnetic resonance imaging assessment of acute groin injuries shows good intra- and inter-rater reproducibility among athletes with acute groin pain, according to a study published in European Radiology.

Researchers from Denmark performed a prospective study to assess the use of multi-dimensional MRI assessment among 75 competitive male athletes (mean age 36.6), focusing on acute musculotendinous groin lesion.

The athletes had presented within seven days of acute onset of sports-related groin pain. All athletes underwent MRI to evaluate the following muscles:

Adductors

Iliopsoas

Obturator internus

Rectus abdominis

Rectus femoris

Sartorius

Tensor fasciae latae

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The results showed 85 different acute lesions, the most common being adductor lungus lesions (42.7%), followed by rectus femoris lesions (16.3%). Nineteen types of nonacute lesions were detected; the most common was bone marrow edema, present in at least one side in 55% of the subject group. The researchers also found central disk protrusions/superior osteophytes and perisymphyseal sclerosis.

“A standardized MRI assessment approach of acute groin injuries was described and showed good intra- and inter-rater reproducibility,” the researchers concluded.