Diagnosis and Management of Muscle Injuries

Abstract

As a result of the frequency of muscle injuries, the most common injuries sustained during sporting activity, many are treated clinically in the absence of confirmatory imaging. The clinical appearance of a skeletal muscle injury depends on the severity of the injury. Detailed history of the injury mechanism and preceding history in combination with careful examination are essential in making a correct diagnosis. A critical goal of the history and examination is to differentiate between those players with injuries possibly requiring surgical treatment and those players with non-surgical injuries. MRI and US are able to describe the location (which muscle and tissue), the injury size and the lesion nature as depicted by echotexture and signal intensity, respectively. The clinical diagnosis of muscle injury is sufficient in most cases, but US can be considered a valid first-line tool if a more exact characterization of the injury is desired. MRI might be of value when there is a clear discrepancy between the clinical symptoms, the physician’s findings and the US finding.