Utility of sonography for the diagnosis of adductor avulsion injury ("thigh splints")

Adductor Insertion Avulsion Syndrome with Proximal Femoral Shaft Stress Fracture: Not Only Found in Young Athletes

The adductor insertion avulsion syndrome, also called “thigh splints,” is usually considered a sports injury, causing thigh and groin pain. It is related to chronic traction stress of the adductor muscles at their insertion site along the posterior margin of the proximal and mid-femoral diaphysis, and it can get complicated by stress fracture. We report the case of a 64-year-old woman—significantly older than previously reported cases—with a history of complete functional loss of the right hip following intensive physiotherapy and a final diagnosis of adductor insertion avulsion syndrome.

Sports Injuries about the Hip: What the Radiologist Should Know

Injuries of the hip and surrounding structures represent a complex and commonly encountered scenario in athletes, with improper diagnosis serving as a cause of delayed return to play or progression to a more serious injury. As such, radiologists play an essential role in guiding management of athletic injuries. Familiarity with hip anatomy and the advantages and limitations of various imaging modalities is of paramount importance for accurate and timely diagnosis. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is often the modality of choice for evaluating many of the injuries discussed, although preliminary evaluation with conventional radiography and use of other imaging modalities such as ultrasonography (US), computed tomography, and bone scintigraphy may be supplementary or preferred in certain situations. Stress fractures, thigh splints, and posterior hip dislocations are important structural injuries to consider in the athlete, initially imaged with radiographs and often best diagnosed with MR imaging. Apophyseal injuries are particularly important to consider in young athletes and may be acute or related to chronic repetitive microtrauma. Femoroacetabular impingement has been implicated in development of labral tears and cartilage abnormalities. Tear of the ligamentum teres is now recognized as a potential cause of hip pain and instability, best evaluated with MR arthrography. Greater trochanteric pain syndrome encompasses a group of conditions leading to lateral hip pain, with US playing an increasingly important role for both evaluation and image-guided treatment. Muscle injuries and athletic pubalgia are common in athletes. Lastly, snapping hip syndrome and Morel-Lavallée lesions are two less common but nonetheless important considerations. ^©RSNA, 2016.

Adductor insertion avulsion syndrome mimicking neoplastic processes in a 14-year-old long-distance runner

Adductor insertion avulsion syndrome, also known as thigh splints, is an uncommon condition that can mimic primary bone tumors or osteomyelitis. This article describes the clinical and imaging findings of adductor insertion avulsion syndrome in a 14-year-old male long-distance runner. The patient presented with a 1-month history of progressively worsening pain in the medial aspect of the left thigh. No significant findings were noted on physical examination except slight tenderness to palpation. Radiographs revealed an intracortical radiolucent lesion with a solid periosteal reaction in the medial aspect of the femoral diaphysis. Bone scintigraphy showed an increased uptake corresponding with the lesion of the left medial femoral diaphysis. Computed tomography confirmed the presence of periosteal reaction and intracortical linear hypoattenuation and showed no fracture line. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed periosteal, cortical, and intramedullary signal intensity abnormalities. These clinical and radiologic features suggested adductor insertion avulsion syndrome. The patient was treated with initial avoidance of weight bearing using 2 crutches for ambulation, followed by progressive weight bearing over a period of 2 weeks. The symptom resolved completely 7 weeks after initial evaluation, and the patient had normal gait without pain. Knowledge of this condition is important for the appropriate interpretation of imaging findings and the avoidance of unnecessary biopsy with potentially misleading results. Moreover, this case provides a time line as a reference for the rehabilitation of patients in similar cases.