[Contemporary imaging examinations for (suspected) stress fractures]. / Zeitgemäße bildgebende Untersuchung bei (vermuteter) Stressfraktur.

Stress fractures belong to the group of atraumatic fractures. A low-impact and repetitive load is the underlying cause and no fracture would occur under physiological circumstances. The conventional X­ray examination remains the initial imaging modality when a stress fracture is suspected. In contrast, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the gold standard and is also used to rule out other pathological changes. Computed tomography (CT) should be included if the MRI findings are unclear. New techniques, such as dual energy computed tomography (DECT) and magnetic resonance bone imaging (MR bone) should be used more frequently in practice in the future and become increasingly more important for the correct diagnosis.

Comparison between dedicated MRI and symphyseal fluoroscopic guided contrast agent injection in the diagnosis of cleft sign in athletic groin pain and association with pelvic ring instability.

OBJECTIVE: To compare dedicated MRI with targeted fluoroscopic guided symphyseal contrast agent injection regarding the assessment of symphyseal cleft signs in men with athletic groin pain and assessment of radiographic pelvic ring instability. METHODS: Sixty-six athletic men were prospectively included after an initial clinical examination by an experienced surgeon using a standardized procedure. Diagnostic fluoroscopic symphyseal injection of a contrast agent was performed. Additionally, standing single-leg stance radiography and dedicated 3-Tesla MRI protocol were employed. The presence of cleft injuries (superior, secondary, combined, atypical) and osteitis pubis was recorded. RESULTS: Symphyseal bone marrow edema (BME) was present in 50 patients, bilaterally in 41 patients and in 28 with an asymmetrical distribution. Comparison of MRI and symphysography was as followed: no clefts: 14 cases (MRI) vs. 24 cases (symphysography), isolated superior cleft sign: 13 vs. 10, isolated secondary cleft sign: 15 vs. 21 cases and combined injuries: 18 vs. 11 cases. In 7 cases a combined cleft sign was observed in MRI but only an isolated secondary cleft sign was visible in symphysography. Anterior pelvic ring instability was observed in 25 patients and was linked to a cleft sign in 23 cases (7 superior cleft sign, 8 secondary cleft signs, 6 combined clefts, 2 atypical cleft injuries). Additional BME could be diagnosed in 18 of those 23. CONCLUSION: Dedicated 3-Tesla MRI outmatches symphysography for purely diagnostic purposes of cleft injuries. Microtearing at the prepubic aponeurotic complex and the presence of BME is a prerequisite for the development of anterior pelvic ring instability. CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: For diagnostic of symphyseal cleft injuries dedicated 3-T MRI protocols outmatch fluoroscopic symphysography. Prior specific clinical examination is highly beneficial and additional flamingo view x-rays are recommended for assessment of pelvic ring instability in these patients. KEY POINTS: • Assessment of symphyseal cleft injuries is more accurate by use of dedicated MRI as compared to fluoroscopic symphysography. • Additional fluoroscopy may be important for therapeutic injections. • The presence of cleft injury might be a prerequisite for the development of pelvic ring instability.

Secuencia de displasia caudal: Estudio clínico y radiológico de un paciente / Caudal dysplasia sequence: Clinical and radiological study of a patient

La secuencia de displasia caudal (SDC), denominada también síndrome de regresión caudal y síndrome de agenesia sacra, es una malformación congénita poco frecuente, que incluye principalmente agenesia con extensión variable de cuerpos vertebrales distales lumbosacrococcígeos y/o sacrococcígeos. En este trabajo se presentan criterios diagnósticos por imagen, clasificación y estudio de un caso clínico.

Caudal dysplasia sequence (CDS), also called caudal regression syndrome and syndrome of sacral agenesis is a rare congenital malformation, which includes agenesis with variable extension of lumbo-sacral-coccygeal distal and sacrococcygeal vertebral bodies. In this article we review diagnostic criteria, classification and report a clinical case.