MR Imaging of Sports Injuries of the Hip and Pelvis

ABSTRACT

The role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in evaluating patients with sports injuries about the hip and pelvis is just beginning to be defined. There are several situations where MRI may have a significant impact on patient management. Determination of the extent of a muscle strain injury with MRI may be used to predict the length of time an athlete will be disabled. Chronic bone and soft tissue injuries may not be readily diagnosed by physical examination or radiographs, but are well shown by MRI. These include stress fracture, chronic avulsion injury, osteitis pubis, and bursitis. In evaluating patients with suspected femoral neck stress fracture, MRI provides rapid, accurate diagnosis and depiction of lesion extent, enabling patients without fracture to be promptly discharged and those requiring surgery to be treated without delay. MR arthrography is a promising imaging tool for assessment of the acetabular labrum. MRI may also reveal causes of hip or groin pain unrelated to injury, such as osteonecrosis and transient bone marrow edema syndrome.

KEYWORDS

Hip, abnormalities - hip, MR - pelvis, MR