Rosa Monica Rodrigo, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Juan Maria Santisteban, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Rafa Ortega, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Francisco Angulo, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Marta Rodriguez, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Maria Jose Ereno MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Investigate the relationship between MRI findings of rectus femoris strain injuries and the recovery interval  (RI) period  in professional soccer players.

Prospective study of 40 strain injuries studied in a 1.5 T device with a surface coil. Time elapsed from the acute injury ranged from 1 to 7 days. The next MRI findings have been correlated with the clinical outcome and a routine stadistical analysis was performed: Most of the lesions were analysed in FST2 with fat saturation sequence: anatomical location (divided into: direct tendon, indirect tendon, myoconnective lesions or  combination of any of them) site (proximal or middle lesions, with the mayor gluteus as the hallmark) size (cross sectional and length of the edema) possible presence of perifascial fluid (below or above the fascial plane).       2. Another parameters were analysed in T1 sequence: thicker muscle, hipo /hiper intensity areas, MTJ blurring or disruptions.

Mean age was 21. 5; mean recovering was 29. 5d Regarding to the anatomical structure affected, 72% had perifascial fluid, and can be divided into: 30% myoconnective, 27.8% indirect tendon, 36.1% direct tendon and 19.4% of combined injuries, with no statistical significant difference in recovery days Regarding to the site of injury, proximal lesions had longer RI (31.5 vs 26.5d),with no stadistical difference Regarding to the size of injury, cross sectional area injury greater than 50%,  had the longest RI (28.1 vs 36.4d), with a p=0.077 Lesions with fascial fluid took longer RI (31.8 vs 22,7d ), with a p=0.026 The recovery period for lesions seen in T1 was 38.6 vs 27.6d, with a p=0.019      

The MRI findings are helpful to predict rectus femoris injuries prognosis. The combined association of three of the following four findings : proximal lesion injury seen on T1WI cross sectional greater than 50% and the presence of perifascial fluid      Had a  poor outcome prognosis, with longer recovering time, RI 37.78 vs 27.16 days, with a    p=0.012,which is of stadistical  difference.     

The MRI can be used as a practical and accurate tool, to predict the outcome of the Rectus Femoris strain injuries, in order to help the team´s medical staff  manage the soccer player´s recovery.

Rodrigo, R, Santisteban, J, Ortega, R, Angulo, F, Rodriguez, M, Ereno, M, Predictive Value of MRI in Rectus Femoris Strain Injuries.  Radiological Society of North America 2009 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 29 - December 4, 2009 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2009/8002185.html