Diagnosis of Acute Groin Injuries: A Prospective Study of 110 Athletes

TY - JOUR

T1 - Diagnosis of Acute Groin Injuries

T2 - A Prospective Study of 110 Athletes

AU - Serner, Andreas

AU - Tol, Johannes L

AU - Jomaah, Nabil

AU - Weir, Adam

AU - Whiteley, Rodney

AU - Thorborg, Kristian

AU - Robinson, Matthew

AU - Hölmich, Per

N1 - © 2015 The Author(s).

PY - 2015/8/4

Y1 - 2015/8/4

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

KW - Abdominal Injuries

KW - Adolescent

KW - Adult

KW - Athletes

KW - Athletic Injuries

KW - Cross-Sectional Studies

KW - Groin

KW - Humans

KW - Leg Injuries

KW - Magnetic Resonance Imaging

KW - Male

KW - Muscle, Skeletal

KW - Physical Examination

KW - Prospective Studies

KW - Soccer

KW - Sports

KW - Thigh

KW - Young Adult

U2 - 10.1177/0363546515585123

DO - 10.1177/0363546515585123

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 25977522

SN - 0363-5465

VL - 43

SP - 1857

EP - 1864

JO - American Journal of Sports Medicine

JF - American Journal of Sports Medicine

IS - 8

ER -