MRI approach and findings in sport injuries and overuse syndromes involving of the elbow

ABSTRACT

MRI approach and findings in sport injuries and overuse syndromes involving of the elbowABSTTwenty-seven patients presenting with painful elbow attributed to acute or repetitive microtrauma were examined by MRI. The multiplanar capability and variable sensitivity of different MR pulse sequences clearly demonstrated radiographically occult osteochondral injuries as well as the wide spectrum of periarticular ligamentous, muscular tendinous and neuropathic injuries. Because positioning and scan planning are not straight forward as they are with other joints, the study tried to propose to the optimal imaging protocol providing a tailored approach for each entity as suspected by the mechanism of injury, clinical presentation and examination findings in order to limit the examination time and reduce the patient discomfort