RSNA 2011 

Abstract Archives of the RSNA, 2011


LL-MKS-SU7A

Ultrasound-guided Musculoskeletal Interventions in Professional American Football: 16 Years of Experience

Scientific Informal (Poster) Presentations

Presented on November 27, 2011
Presented as part of LL-MKS-SU: Musculoskeletal Imaging

Participants

Radhika B. Dave MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose
Kathryn Jane Stevens MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose
Giridhar Mysore Shivaram MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose
Daniel Garza MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose
Michael F. Dillingham MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose
Christopher Frederick Beaulieu MD, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

PURPOSE

Myotendinous strains and hematomas as well as more chronic inflammatory conditions are common in professional football players. Over the past 16 years, ultrasound (US)-guided aspirations and injections have been increasingly utilized to treat fluid collections and inflammatory disorders in this elite group of athletes, with the goal of minimizing time lost to injury. This presentation details the types and locations of injuries and the interventions performed.

METHOD AND MATERIALS

A retrospective review of radiology records between 1994 and 2010 yielded 103 separate procedures that had been performed under US guidance on 51 NFL athletes from a single team. The specific locations of injuries, size of the collection, amount of fluid drained, if any, and injected materials were documented. Return to practice and game data was available for the majority of patients.

RESULTS

Most injuries treated were lower extremity muscle strains and contusions. In order of decreasing frequency, thigh injuries accounted for 60%, knee 18%, torso 6%, calf 5%, pelvis/hip 3%, foot 3%, upper extremity 3%, and ankle 1%. Thirty successful hematoma aspirations were performed, yielding a mean volume of 17 ± 21 mL, range 1.5-90 mL. In the setting of myotendinous strains, the majority of procedures included injection of bupivicaine and dexamethasone sodium phosphate. There were 16 cystic lesions drained in 6 patients, 9 of which were Baker cysts, yielding 14.2 ± 8.4 mL of drained fluid, range 2-35 mL. In more recent seasons, 9 platelet rich plasma injections were performed in 5 patients with myotendinous strains of the thigh or partial tears of the MCL of the knee. While control matched patients are difficult to identify, we believe these procedures help minimize the loss of participation time in the majority of recipients, and no complications have been documented.

CONCLUSION

Given appropriate expertise, ultrasound-guided musculoskeletal interventions are minimally invasive, effective, and safe. While this type of therapy may be more aggressive than needed for casual athletes, elite athletes such as professional football players can benefit from these procedures, with important implications for both the individual and the team.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE/APPLICATION

With appropriate training, radiologists are well suited to perform US-guided musculoskeletal interventions. These procedures are minimally invasive, safe, and may reduce time lost to injury.

Cite This Abstract

Dave, R, Stevens, K, Shivaram, G, Garza, D, Dillingham, M, Beaulieu, C, Ultrasound-guided Musculoskeletal Interventions in Professional American Football: 16 Years of Experience.  Radiological Society of North America 2011 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 26 - December 2, 2011 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2011/11034236.html