Abstract
Objectives
To describe a multi-dimensional MRI assessment approach with a focus on acute musculotendinous groin lesions, and to evaluate scoring reproducibility.
Methods
Male athletes who participated in competitive sports and presented within 7 days of an acute onset of sports-related groin pain were included. All athletes underwent MRI (1.5 T) according to a standardized groin-centred protocol. From several calibration sessions, a system was developed assessing grade, location and extent of muscle strains, peri-lesional haematoma, as well as other non-acute findings commonly associated with long-standing groin pain. Kappa (K) statistics and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were used to describe intra- and inter-rater reproducibility.
Results
Seventy-five athletes (mean age 26.6 ± 4.4 years) were included in the analyses, and 85 different acute lesions were observed. Adductor longus lesions were most common (42.7 %) followed by rectus femoris lesions (16.3 %). Kappa values ranged between 0.70 and 1.00 for almost all categorical features for acute lesions, with almost perfect intra- and inter-rater agreement (K = 0.89-1.00) for presence, number, location and grading of lesions. ICCs ranged between 0.77 and 1.00 for continuous measures of acute lesion extent.
Conclusions
A standardized MRI assessment approach of acute groin injuries was described and showed good intra- and inter-rater reproducibility.
Key Points
• A multidimensional MRI assessment approach for acute groin injuries was described.
• Standardized MRI assessment of acute musculotendinous groin injuries has high reproducibility.
• Injury location and injury extent can be scored reliably using 1.5 T MRI.
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Abbreviations
- CSA:
-
Cross-sectional area
- FOV:
-
Field of view
- ICC:
-
Intraclass correlation coefficient
- IRB:
-
Institutional Review Board
- MRI:
-
Magnetic resonance imaging
- MSK:
-
Musculoskeletal
- TE:
-
Echo time
- TR:
-
Repetition time
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Acknowledgements
The scientific guarantor of this publication is Andreas Serner. The authors of this manuscript declare no relationships with any companies, whose products or services may be related to the subject matter of the article. The authors state that this work has not received any funding.
Outside this work, Dr. Guermazi has received consultancies, speaking fees and/or honoraria from Sanofi-Aventis, Merck Serono and TissuGene and is President and shareholder of Boston Imaging Core Lab (BICL), LLC a company providing image assessment services. Dr. Roemer is Chief Medical Officer and shareholder of BICL, LLC. None of the other authors have declared any competing interests. One of the authors has significant statistical expertise. Institutional Review Board approval was obtained. Written informed consent was obtained from all subjects (patients) in this study.
Some study subjects or cohorts have been previously reported in: Serner A, Tol JL, Jomaah N, et al. (2015) Diagnosis of Acute Groin Injuries: A Prospective Study of 110 Athletes. Am J Sports Med 0363546515585123. doi: 10.1177/0363546515585123. Methodology: prospective, cross-sectional study, performed at one institution.
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Andreas Serner and Frank W. Roemer contributed equally to this work.
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Serner, A., Roemer, F.W., Hölmich, P. et al. Reliability of MRI assessment of acute musculotendinous groin injuries in athletes. Eur Radiol 27, 1486–1495 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-016-4487-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-016-4487-z