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
