Hamstring Injury in Athletes: Using MR Imaging Measurements to Compare Extent of Muscle Injury with Amount of Time Lost from Competition

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Abstract
OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to examine relationships between MR imaging measurements of the extent of hamstring injury and the amount of time lost from competition in a group of athletes.SUBJECTS AND METHODS. Thirty-seven athletes with suspected hamstring injury underwent T1 and inversion recovery T2 turbo spin-echo MR imaging in axial and sagittal planes. The presence and dimensions of abnormal focal intra- and extramuscular T2 hyperintensity were independently recorded by two radiologists, and the muscles involved and intramuscular location of injury were noted. The percentage of abnormal cross-sectional muscle area, abnormal muscle volume, and length of extramuscular T2 hyperintensity were measured from T2-weighted images depicting the maximal extent of the injury. Time (days) lost from competition was noted during follow-up.RESULTS. MR imaging detected hamstring muscle and linear extramuscular T2 hyperintensity in 30 (81%) and 25 (68%) of 37 athletes, respectively. The long head of the bi...