SPORTS INJURIES IN THE PELVIS AND HIP - DIAGNOSTIC-IMAGING

We discuss the role of imaging techniques in examining the athletes wi th sports injuries involving the pelvis and the hip. Pelvis and hip pa in is of difficult clinical clarification because of the various athle tic injuries which may affect the bone or soft tissues at different an atomic sites. Moreover, the symptoms of pelvis and hip injuries are si milar in most cases and they are often diffuse and atypical. Diagnosti c imaging can play an essential role because treatment success depends on a correct diagnosis and these techniques can actually differentiat e the most frequent causes of pelvis and hip sports injuries such as g roin strain, osteitis pubis, ischial intersection syndrome, snapping h ip; stress fractures, hernias and avulsion fractures. Finally, we disc uss the role of magnetic resonance imaging in detecting the causes of hip pain other than sports injuries, such as avascular necrosis, refle x sympathetic dystrophy syndrome, herniation pit, acetabular labrum in juries. To conclude, diagnostic imaging techniques currently permit th e direct and noninvasive depiction of pelvis and hip conditions. Parti cularly, magnetic resonance imaging is very helpful in detecting injur y site, extent and characteristics; it can also predict the lime perio d an athlete will be disabled and help define the best treatment plann ing. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.