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The prevalence of athletic pubalgia imaging findings on MRI in patients with femoroacetabular impingement

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Abstract

Objective

To determine the prevalence of athletic pubalgia imaging findings on MRI in patients with femoroacetabular impingement and assess for correlative risk factors.

Materials and methods

A retrospective search identified 156 hips with femoroacetabular impingement and a control group of 113 without femoroacetabular impingement that had an MRI performed between January 1, 2015, and January 1, 2018. Two fellowship-trained musculoskeletal radiologists reviewed studies for the presence of acute osteitis pubis, chronic osteitis pubis, adductor tendinosis, and tendon tear; rectus abdominis tendinosis and tendon tear; and aponeurotic plate tear. Findings were correlated with various clinical and imaging risk factors. Univariate and multivariate statistical analyses were performed.

Results

Imaging findings of adductor tendinosis (p = 0.02) and chronic osteitis pubis (p = 0.01) were more prevalent in FAI patients than controls. Univariate analyses in FAI patients showed that an alpha angle ≥ 60° had a higher prevalence of aponeurotic plate tears (p = 0.02) and adductor tendinosis (p = 0.049). Multivariate analyses showed that an alpha angle ≥ 60° had a higher prevalence of chronic osteitis pubis (OR = 2.27, p = 0.031), sports participation had a higher prevalence of adductor tendon tears (OR = 4.69, p = 0.013) and chronic osteitis pubis (OR = 2.61, p = 0.0058), and males had a higher prevalence of acute osteitis pubis (OR = 5.17, p = 0.032).

Conclusion

Sports participation, alpha angle ≥ 60°, and male sex predict a higher prevalence of athletic pubalgia imaging findings in patients with femoroacetabular impingement.

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Correspondence to Sowmya Varada.

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The prevalence of athletic pubalgia imaging findings on MRI in patients with femoroacetabular impingement

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Varada, S., Moy, M.P., Wu, F. et al. The prevalence of athletic pubalgia imaging findings on MRI in patients with femoroacetabular impingement. Skeletal Radiol 49, 1249–1258 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-020-03405-z

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