What is the prevalence of extra-articular and intra-articular magnetic resonance imaging findings in football players with and without hip and/or groin pain? A cross-sectional study of 166 football players.

AIM: The primary aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of MRI findings in football players with and without hip and/or groin pain (HGP).

METHODS

We described the prevalence of extra-articular findings (including gluteal, hamstring, iliopsoas, rectus femoris; pubic) and intra-articular (including labral, cartilage, bone marrow oedema, subchondral and paralabral cysts, ligamentum teres) findings on MRI for 215 eligible hips with HGP (132 participants) and 68 eligible asymptomatic hips (34 participants). Imaging of the hip joint included radiographs and a non-contrast 3.0 Tesla MRI, performed at a single imaging centre.

RESULTS

There was no difference between groups for prevalence of any extra-articular or intra-articular findings. Pubic (75-85%), labral (70-78%) and chondral (54-60%) findings were most common. ⅓ of hips demonstrated all 3 findings regardless of symptoms (33.5% in HGP group and 35.5% in control group). 96.7% of HGP participants and 95.6% of control participants had at least 1 finding.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study found that prevalence of extra- and intra-articular hip MRI findings did not differ between football players with and without HGP. Football players with and without pain were likely to have multiple imaging findings in 1 hip. A thorough history and clinical examination should be used to contextualise any imaging findings.