Role of ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging in the prognosis and classification of muscle injuries in professional football players: correlation between imaging and return to sport time

Christian Ossola,Eugenio Annibale Genovese,Marco Calvi,Sofia Tack,Marco Curti,Lucio Genesio,Stefano Mazzoni,Massimo Venturini

doi:10.1007/s11547-021-01396-y

Christian Ossola, Eugenio Annibale Genovese + Show 6 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11547-021-01396-y

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Abstract

PurposeTo study distractive muscle injuries applying US and MRI specific classifications and to find if any correlation exists between the results and the return to sport (RTS) time. The second purpose is to evaluate which classification has the best prognostic value and if the lesions extension correlates with the RTS time.MethodsA total of 26 male, professional soccer players (age 21.3 ± 5.6), diagnosed with traumatic muscle injury of the lower limbs, received ultrasound and MRI evaluation within 2 days from the trauma. Concordance between US and MRI findings was investigated. The relationships between MRI and US based injury grading scales and RTS time were evaluated. Correlation between injuries’ longitudinal extension and RTS time was also investigated.ResultsThe correlation between US and MRI measurements returned a Spearman value of rs = 0.61 (p = .001). Peetrons and Mueller-Wohlfahrt grading scales correlations with RTS time were r = 0.43 (p = .02) and r = 0.83 (p = < .001). The lesion’s extension correlation with RTS time was r = 0.63 (p < .001). The correlation between the site of the lesion and its location with the RTS time were rs = 0.2 and rs = 0.25.ConclusionsBoth US and MRI can be used as prognostic indicators along with the Peetrons (US) and the Mueller-Wohlfahrt (MRI) classifications. MRI is more precise and generates more reproducible results. The lesion craniocaudal extension must be considered as a prognostic indicator, while the injury location inside the muscle or along its major axis has doubtful significance.

Highlights

In sports which require high physical effort, in which muscles are highly strained for short periods, such as football, muscle injuries are very common
Predicting the correct return to sport (RTS) time is fundamental for professional players
This is namely true for professional football players, for whom a muscular injury implies strategic and financial issues [2, 3]

Summary

Introduction

In sports which require high physical effort, in which muscles are highly strained for short periods, such as football, muscle injuries are very common. Treatment and rehabilitation, the recovery time is shortened and there is a lower risk of reinjury This objective assumes considerable importance in high-level teams, in which the absence of a player from competition implies strategic burden and has considerable economic implications [2,3,4,5,6]. Among the MRI parameters, the length and volume of the lesion, the affected area, and the grading of the lesion were proposed Even in this case, the hamstring is the most studied muscle group [2, 3, 5, 15,16,17,18]. We aim at evaluating which classification has the best prognostic value and if the lesions extension or location correlate with the RTS time

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