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MR imaging in the prognostication of hamstring injury. Work in progress.

Pomeranz SJ, Heidt RS Jr. Radiology 1993 Dec;189(3):897-900.

PURPOSE.
To correlate morphologic and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging findings in hamstring injury with short-term prognosis and convalescence interval (CI).

MATERIALS AND METHODS.
A retrospective study of 14 professional athletes with hamstring injury was performed. The injuries were categorized according to muscle group involved, percentage of cross-sectional area affected, location, and signal intensity on T1- and T2-weighted spin-echo images.

RESULTS.
Longer CIs (> 6 weeks) were seen in injuries with complete transection, greater than 50% cross-sectional muscle involvement, ganglionlike fluid collections (long T1 and T2), hemorrhagelike signal intensity (short T1 and T2), distal myotendinous junction tears, and deep muscular tears. Shorter CIs (< 5 weeks) were seen in superficial muscle injuries and muscle belly injuries that involved small cross-sectional areas of the muscle.

CONCLUSION.
Prediction of CI for high-performance athletes with complete hamstring injury may be accomplished with use of MR imaging and poor prognostic factors.