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Chronically stressed wrists in adolescent gymnasts: MR imaging appearance
Radiology
|June 1, 1995
Summary
Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging reveals wrist injuries in adolescent gymnasts. Physeal cartilage extension into the metaphysis is a healing sign in chronically stressed wrists, indicating metaphyseal injury.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Orthopedics
- Sports Medicine
Background:
- Adolescent athletes, particularly gymnasts, are prone to chronic wrist stress.
- Growth plate injuries can have long-term consequences if not properly diagnosed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the magnetic resonance (MR) imaging appearance of chronically stressed wrists in adolescent gymnasts.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of MR imaging in diagnosing growth plate injuries in this population.
Main Methods:
- Coronal T1-weighted spin-echo and gradient-echo MR images were acquired for 93 wrists in 47 gymnasts.
- MR imaging findings were correlated with radiographic results.
Main Results:
- In wrists with abnormal radiographs, MR imaging showed horizontal fractures (23/47), physeal cartilage extension to the metaphysis (17/47), and physeal widening (17/47).
- In wrists with normal radiographs, MR imaging revealed physeal cartilage extension (12/46), metaphyseal bone bruise (8/46), and vertical fractures (4/46).
Conclusions:
- Physeal cartilage extension into the metaphysis is a marker of healing in chronically stressed adolescent wrists.
- MR imaging findings suggest that physeal widening is often secondary to metaphyseal injury in these athletes.