Long-standing groin pain in contact sports: a prospective case-control and MRI study

The Role of MRI in Groin Pain Syndrome in Athletes

Groin pain syndrome (GPS) is one of the most frequent injuries in competitive sports. Stresses generated in the lower limbs by quick turns and accelerations, such as in soccer, basketball or hockey, can produce localized regions of increased forces, resulting in anatomical lesions. The differential diagnoses are numerous and comprise articular, extra-articular, muscular, tendinous and visceral clinical conditions and a correct diagnosis is crucial if treatment is to be efficient. MRI is the gold standard of diagnostic techniques, especially when an alternative pathology needs to be excluded and/or other imaging techniques such as ultrasound or radiography do not lead to a diagnosis. This paper, based on the current literature, gives a comprehensive review of the anatomy of the pubic region and of the typical MRI findings in those affected by GPS. Many clinical conditions causing GPS can be investigated by MRI within appropriate protocols. However, MRI shows limits in reliability in the investigation of inguinal and femoral hernias and therefore is not the imaging technique of choice for studying these clinical conditions.

MRI findings in athletic groin pain: correlation of imaging with history and examination in symptomatic and asymptomatic athletes

OBJECTIVE

To determine differences in prevalence and diagnostic accuracy of MRI findings between asymptomatic athletes and athletes with longstanding groin pain.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

One hundred twenty-three adult male athletes were approached with 85 consecutive athletes recruited. Group 1 (symptomatic, n = 34) athletes referred for longstanding groin pain (insidious onset, > 3 weeks duration). Group 2 (control, n = 51) athletes referred for injuries remote from the pelvis and no groin pain in the last 12 weeks. All referrers completed a clinical examination proforma documenting absence or presence of pelvis and hip abnormality. All patients completed the Copenhagen Hip and Groin Outcome Score (HAGOS) questionnaire and underwent a 3T MRI groin and hip protocol. MRIs were scored independently by two musculoskeletal radiologists blinded to clinical details. Statistical analysis was performed to evaluate associations between MRI findings, inter-reader reliability, clinical examination and HAGOS scores.

RESULTS

Pubic body subchondral bone oedema, capsule/aponeurosis junction tear and soft tissue oedema were more prevalent in the symptomatic group (p = 0.0003, 0.0273 and 0.0005, respectively) and in athletes with clinical abnormality at symphysis pubis, adductor insertion, rectus abdominis, psoas and inguinal canal (p = 0.0002, 0.0459 and 0.00002, respectively). Pubic body and subchondral oedema and capsule/aponeurosis tear and oedema significantly correlated with lower (worse) HAGOS scores (p = 0.004, 0.00009, 0.0004 and 0.002, respectively). Inter-reader reliability was excellent, 0.87 (range 0.58-1). Symphyseal bone spurring, disc protrusion and labral tears were highly prevalent in both groups.

CONCLUSION

Clinical assessment and MRI findings of pubic subchondral bone oedema and capsule/aponeurosis abnormality appear to be the strongest correlators with longstanding groin pain.

Pain provocation tests and clinical entities in male football players with longstanding groin pain are associated with pain intensity and disability

BACKGROUND

Clinical examination of male football players with longstanding groin pain can be considered difficult. Pain provocation tests are used to examine and classify longstanding groin pain into clinical entities as adductor-, iliopsoas-, inguinal-, and pubic-related. It is unknown if pain provocation tests and clinical entities are associated with pain intensity and disability.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate if the number of positive pain provocation tests and clinical entities are associated with pain intensity and disability, measured by the Copenhagen 5-Second Squeeze Test (5SST) and the Copenhagen Hip and Groin Outcome Score (HAGOS), respectively.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional.

METHOD

Forty male football players (age: mean 24 years [SD: 3.2]; height: mean 182 cm [SD: 5.7]; weight: mean 78 Kg [SD: 6.6]) with longstanding groin pain for a median of 8.5 months (IQR: 4-36) were included. The players underwent a bilateral groin examination with 33 pain provocation tests and were classified with clinical entities (0-7) based on the test findings.

RESULTS

The number of positive pain provocation tests (median 10, range 2-23) correlated with pain intensity (5SST: rs = 0.70 [95% CI: 0.50, 0.83]) and disability (HAGOS subscales Sport: rs =-0.62 [95% CI: -0.81, -0.36], Pain: rs = -0.38 [95% CI: -0.69, -0.06], Symptoms: rs = 0.52 [95% CI: -0.73, -0.24], ADL: rs = -0.48 [95% CI: -0.71, -0.18]). The number of clinical entities (median 3, range: 1-7) showed similar but weaker correlations to pain intensity and disability.

CONCLUSIONS

In male football players with longstanding groin pain, the number of positive pain provocation tests and clinical entities shows weak to strong correlations with pain intensity and disability. Consequently, when pain intensity and disability are severe, a higher number of pain provocation tests may be positive, and more clinical entities may be present.

Imaging Review of Hockey-related Lower Extremity Injuries

Hockey is a fast-paced contact sport with a high incidence of injuries. Although injuries are more frequent among elite players, recreational hockey injuries are a common issue faced by primary care and emergency physicians. Lower extremity injuries in hockey are particularly important because they account for approximately a third of all injuries and > 60% of all overuse injuries. This pictorial review provides the general and specialty trained radiologist with a knowledge of the patterns of lower extremity injury that occur in ice hockey.

Long-standing pubic-related groin pain in professional academy soccer players: a prospective cohort study on possible risk factors, rehabilitation and return to play

Background

Despite being a common overuse entity in youth soccer, scientific data on risk factors, rehabilitation and return to play for long-standing pubic-related groin pain is still rare. The current prospective cohort study aims to evaluate potential risk-factors, propose a criteria-based conservative rehabilitation protocol and assess return-to-play outcomes among professional youth soccer players suffering from long-standing pubic-related groin pain.

Methods

Male soccer players with long-standing (> 6 weeks) pubic-related groin pain from a professional soccer club’s youth academy were analyzed for possible risk factors such as age, team (U12 - U23), younger/older age group within the team, position and preinjury Functional movement score. All injured players received a conservative, standardized, supervised, criteria-based, 6-level rehabilitation program. Outcome measures included time to return to play, recurrent groin pain in the follow-up period and clinical results at final follow-up two years after their return to play.

Results

A total of 14 out of 189 players developed long-standing pubic-related groin pain in the 2017/2018 season (incidence 7.4%). The average age of the players at the time of the injury was 16.1 ± 1.9 years. Risk factor analysis revealed a significant influence of the age group within the team (p = .007). Only players in the younger age group were affected by long-standing pubic-related groin pain, mainly in the first part of the season. Injured players successfully returned to play after an average period of 135.3 ± 83.9 days. Only one player experienced a recurrence of nonspecific symptoms (7.1%) within the follow-up period. The outcome at the 24-month follow-up was excellent for all 14 players.

Conclusions

Long-standing pubic-related groin pain is an overuse entity with a markedly high prevalence in youth soccer players, resulting in a relevant loss of time in training and match play. In particular, the youngest players in each team are at an elevated risk. Applying a criteria-based rehabilitation protocol resulted in an excellent return-to-play rate, with a very low probability of recurrence.

Trial registration

The trial was retrospectively registered under DRKS00016510 in the German Clinical Trials Register on 19.04.2021.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12891-021-04837-x.

Reviewing Bone Marrow Edema in Athletes: A Difficult Diagnostic and Clinical Approach

Bone marrow edema (BME) is defined as an area of low signal intensity on T1-weighted (T1W) MRI images and associated with intermediate or high signal intensity findings on T2-weighted (T2W) MRI images. BME represents a typical imaging finding that characterizes common stress-related bone injuries of professional and amateur athletes. The etiology of stress-related injuries is influenced by numerous factors, including the initiation of a new sports activity or changes in an existing training protocol. The clinical significance of BME remains unclear. However, a correlation between the imaging pattern of BME, the clinical history of the patient and the type of sports activity practiced is essential for correct diagnosis and adequate therapeutic treatment. It is also important to clarify whether there is a specific threshold beyond which exercise can adversely affect the bone remodeling process, as the clinical picture may degenerate into the presence of BME, pain and, in the most severe cases, bone loss. In our review, we summarize the current knowledge on the etiopathogenesis and treatment options for BME and highlight the main aspects that make it difficult to formulate a correct diagnosis and establish an adequate therapeutic treatment.

The cleft sign may be an independent factor of magnetic resonance imaging findings associated with a delayed return-to-play time in athletes with groin pain

PURPOSE

To investigate the prevalence of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings and define prognostic factors of the return-to-play time in young athletes with groin pain.

METHODS

A total of 1091 consecutive athletes were retrospectively screened; 651 athletes, aged 16-40 years, with pain in the groin regions were assessed using MRI. Of these athletes, 356 were included for analysing the time to return-to-play. Univariate and multiple linear regression analyses were used to determine the associations between the time to return-to-play (primary outcome variable) and the following variables: age, sex, body mass index, type of sports, Hip Sports Activity Scale, clear trauma history, and 12 MRI findings.

RESULTS

Four MRI findings, including cleft sign, pubic bone marrow oedema of both the superior and inferior ramus, and central disc protrusion of the pubic symphysis, appeared together in more than 44% of the cases. The median time to return-to-play was 24.7 weeks for athletes with a cleft sign on MRI, which was significantly longer than the 11.9 weeks for athletes without the sign. The median time to return-to-play was 20.8 weeks for athletes with BMI > 24, which was significantly longer than the 13.6 weeks for athletes with BMI ≦ 24. In multiple linear regression analysis of 356 athletes, in whom hip-related groin pain was excluded, and who were followed-up until the return-to-play, the body mass index and cleft sign were the independent factors associated with a delayed return-to-play. In contrast, iliopsoas muscle strain and other muscle injuries were associated with a shorter return-to-play.

CONCLUSIONS

Multiple MRI findings were present in almost half of all cases. Body mass index and the cleft sign were independently associated with a delayed return-to-play time in young athletes suffering from groin pain.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

III.

The arterial blood supply of the symphysis pubis - Spatial orientated and highly variable

BACKGROUND

Open surgical treatment of the pubic region and adductor related pathologies require an exact knowledge of the arterial blood supply of the symphysis pubis that seems furthermore important to explain the hematogenous occurrence of symphysitis. Pubic bone marrow oedema (PBME) is a frequent occurring magnetic resonance imaging finding in groin pain. However, even asymptomatic athletes present PBME and a correlation to the physical activity or higher blood flow was suggested. Data on the vascular anatomy of the symphysis pubis are rare.

METHODS

Ten formaldehyde-embalmed cadavers were dissected, and the arterial blood supply was investigated and photographically documented.

RESULTS

In the majority of cases the following pattern was determined: superior-inferior epigastric artery (n=12 hemipelves), inferior - dorsal artery of the penis/dorsal artery of the clitoris (n=16), posterior- obturator artery (n=16 hemipelves), anterior- deep external pudendal artery (n=14 hemipelves). Besides variations for the deep external pudendal artery anteriorly, we observed a highly variable arterial supply, especially superior. Superior in 4/10 cadavers, inferior in 0/10 cadavers, posterior in 2/10 cadavers and anterior in 5/10 cadavers side variations were found.

CONCLUSION

The symphysis pubis has a spatial and rich organized arterial blood supply with several variations. Despite the symphysis pubis is recognized as bradytroph, the high number of vessels is presumably required in stress situations for example in heavy training.

Prevalence of asymptomatic radiological findings in the groin region: a systematic review

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate in current literature the prevalence of asymptomatic adductor and pubic abnormalities on MRI and ultrasound. Methods: A systematic review of the literature was carried out using PubMed to identify all studies reporting asymptomatic pubic- and adductor-related findings on MRI and/or ultrasound. All types of studies were eligible for inclusion, except case reports. Studies with an asymptomatic cohort, or where at least a part of the study population was asymptomatic, were included. Results: Thirteen studies were included. Two articles describe only asymptomatic adductor abnormalities, six articles only asymptomatic pubic abnormalities. Five articles describe both adductor and pubic abnormalities. All studies were conducted with MRI. Only one of the included articles describes asymptomatic groin findings on ultrasound. Conclusions: Asymptomatic adductor and pubic abnormalities on MRI are frequently present but vary greatly between selected studies. No exact conclusions can be drawn about the prevalence of asymptomatic adductor or pubic findings on MRI due to high heterogeneity between studies. Furthermore, the one article about ultrasound was not enough to draw conclusions for ultrasound findings. It is nonetheless clear that clinicians should be careful to make diagnoses purely based on radiologic findings. A thorough clinical examination and individual interpretation conducted by the clinician remains indispensable.