Diagnosis of Acute Groin Injuries: A Prospective Study of 110 Athletes
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BACKGROUND: Acute groin injuries are common in high-intensity sports, but there are insufficient data on injury characteristics such as injury mechanisms and clinical and radiological findings.
PURPOSE: To describe these characteristics in a cohort of athletes.
STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3.
METHODS: A total of 110 male athletes (mean age, 25.6 ± 4.7 years) with sports-related acute groin pain were prospectively included within 7 days of injury from August 2012 to April 2014. Standardized history taking, a clinical examination, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and/or ultrasound (US) were performed.
RESULTS: The most frequent injury mechanism in soccer was kicking (40%), and change of direction was most frequent in other sports (31%). Clinically, adductor injuries accounted for 66% of all injuries and primarily involved the adductor longus on imaging (91% US, 93% MRI). The iliopsoas and proximal rectus femoris were also frequently injured according to all examination modalities (15%-25%). Acute injury findings were negative in 22% of the MRI and 25% of the US examinations. Of the clinically diagnosed adductor injuries, 3% (US) and 6% (MRI) showed a radiological injury in a different location compared with 35% to 46% for clinically diagnosed iliopsoas and proximal rectus femoris injuries.
CONCLUSION: Adductor injuries account for the majority of acute groin injuries. Iliopsoas and proximal rectus femoris injuries are also common. More than 1 in 5 injuries showed no imaging signs of an acute injury. Clinically diagnosed adductor injuries were often confirmed on imaging, whereas iliopsoas and rectus femoris injuries showed a different radiological injury location in more than one-third of the cases. The discrepancy between clinical and radiological findings should be considered when diagnosing acute groin injuries.
Original language | English |
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Journal | American Journal of Sports Medicine |
Volume | 43 |
Issue number | 8 |
Pages (from-to) | 1857-64 |
Number of pages | 8 |
ISSN | 0363-5465 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Aug 2015 |
- Abdominal Injuries, Adolescent, Adult, Athletes, Athletic Injuries, Cross-Sectional Studies, Groin, Humans, Leg Injuries, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Muscle, Skeletal, Physical Examination, Prospective Studies, Soccer, Sports, Thigh, Young Adult
Research areas
ID: 162497871