Background Clinical decision-making around intramuscular tendon injuries of the hamstrings is a controversial topic in sports medicine. For this injury, MRI at return to play (RTP) might improve RTP decision-making; however, no studies have investigated this. Objective Our objectives were to describe MRI characteristics at RTP, to evaluate healing and to examine the association of MRI characteristics at RTP with reinjury for clinically recovered hamstring intramuscular tendon injuries. Methods We included 41 athletes with hamstring intramuscular tendon injuries and an MRI at baseline and RTP. For both MRIs, we used a standardised scoring form that included intramuscular tendon injury characteristics. We recorded reinjuries during 1-year follow-up. Results At RTP, 56% of the intramuscular tendons showed a partial or complete thickness tendon discontinuity. Regarding healing from injury to RTP, 18 of 34 (44% overall) partial-thickness tendon discontinuities became continuous and 6 out of 7 (15% overall) complete thickness tendon discontinuities became partial-thickness tendon discontinuities. Waviness decreased from 61% to 12%, and 88% of tendons became thickened. We recorded eight (20%) reinjuries within 1 year. Intramuscular tendon characteristics at RTP between participants with or without a reinjury were similar. Conclusion Complete resolution of an intramuscular tendon injury on MRI is not necessary for clinically successful RTP. From injury to RTP, the intramuscular tendon displayed signs of healing. Intramuscular tendon characteristics of those with or without a reinjury were similar.

中文翻译：

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MRI 上腿筋肌内肌腱损伤的完全解决对于临床上成功恢复比赛来说并不是必要的


背景围绕腘绳肌肌腱损伤的临床决策是运动医学中一个有争议的话题。对于这种损伤，重返赛场 (RTP) 时进行 MRI 可能会改善 RTP 决策；然而，还没有研究对此进行调查。目的 我们的目标是描述 RTP 时的 MRI 特征，评估愈合情况并检查 RTP 时的 MRI 特征与临床恢复的腘绳肌内肌腱损伤的再损伤之间的关联。方法 我们纳入了 41 名患有腘绳肌肌腱损伤的运动员，并在基线和 RTP 上进行了 MRI 检查。对于这两种 MRI，我们使用了标准化评分形式，其中包括肌腱损伤特征。我们在一年的随访期间记录了再次受伤的情况。结果 RTP 时，56% 的肌内肌腱显示出部分或完全厚度肌腱不连续性。关于从损伤到 RTP 的愈合，34 个部分厚度肌腱不连续性中的 18 个（总体 44%）变得连续，7 个完全厚度肌腱不连续性中的 6 个（总体 15%）变成部分厚度肌腱不连续性。波纹度从 61% 减少到 12%，88% 的肌腱变粗。我们在 1 年内记录了 8 次 (20%) 再次受伤。有或没有再次受伤的参与者在 RTP 时的肌内肌腱特征相似。结论 MRI 上肌内肌腱损伤的完全解决对于临床成功的 RTP 来说并不是必要的。从受伤到 RTP，肌内肌腱显示出愈合的迹象。有或没有再次受伤的人的肌内肌腱特征相似。