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Background: Early diagnosis of muscle injuries is indispensable in order to initiate appropriate treatment and to facilitate optimal healing., Purpose: The aim of this review is to provide an update on imaging of muscle injuries in sports medicine with a focus on ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and to present experimental approaches in addition to routine diagnostic procedures., Materials and Methods: A PubMed literature search for the years 2012-2022 using the following keywords was performed: muscle, muscle injury, muscle imaging, muscle injury classification, delayed onset muscle soreness, ultrasound, MRI, sodium MRI, potassium MRI, ultra-high-field MRI, injuries of athletes., Results: Imaging is crucial to confirm and assess the extent of sports-related muscle injuries and may help establishing treatment decisions, which directly affect the prognosis. This is of importance when the diagnosis or grade of injury is unclear, when recovery is taking longer than expected, and when interventional or surgical management may be necessary. In addition to established methods such as B‑mode ultrasound and 1 H‑MRI, individual studies show promising approaches to further improve the imaging of muscle injuries in the future. Prior to the integration of contrast-enhanced ultrasound and X‑nuclei into clinical routine, additional studies are needed to validate these techniques further., Conclusion: B‑mode ultrasound represents an easily available, cost-effective modality for the initial diagnosis of muscle injuries. MRI is still considered the reference standard and enables an accurate morphological assessment of the extent of the injury. There are still no imaging approaches available for the objective determination of the optimal point of return to play., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Medizin Verlag GmbH, ein Teil von Springer Nature.)

Background: Cartilage imaging of small joints is increasingly of interest, as early detection of cartilage damage may be relevant regarding individualized surgical therapies and long-term outcomes., Purpose: The aim of this review is to explain modern cartilage imaging of small joints with emphasis on MRI and to discuss the role of methods such as CT arthrography as well as compositional and high-field MRI., Materials and Methods: A PubMed literature search was performed for the years 2008-2018., Results: Clinically relevant cartilage imaging to detect chondral damage in small joints remains challenging. Conventional MRI at 3 T can still be considered as a reference for cartilage imaging in clinical routine. In terms of sensitivity, MR arthrography (MR-A) and computed tomography arthrography (CT-A) are superior to non-arthrographic MRI at 1.5 T in the detection of chondral damage. Advanced degenerative changes of the fingers and toes are usually sufficiently characterized by conventional radiography. MRI at field strengths of 3 T and ultrahigh-field imaging at 7 T can provide additional quantifiable, functional and metabolic information., Conclusion: Standardized cartilage imaging plays an important role in clinical diagnostics in the ankle joint due to the availability of different and individualized therapeutic concepts. In contrast, cartilage imaging of other small joints as commonly performed in clinical studies has not yet become standard of care in daily clinical routine. Although individual study results are promising, additional studies with large patient collectives are needed to validate these techniques. With rapid development of new treatment concepts radiological diagnostics will play a more significant role in the diagnosis of cartilage lesions of small joints.

Purpose: Prospective evaluation of vertebroplasty for osteoporotic compression fractures concerning pain reduction, demand of analgesics and quality of life., Material and Methods: In 26 consecutive patients, 50 vertebral fractures were treated by percutaneous vertebroplasty under fluoroscopic (n = 44) or combined fluoroscopic/CT guidance (n = 6). Prospective follow-up was performed after 6 (for 50 vertebral fractures) and 12 months (for 27 vertebral fractures). Visual analogue scale (VAS) and numeric rating scale (NRS) was applied for the assessment of pain. Subjective quality of life and analgesics demand was documented semi-quantitatively., Results: Mean interval from the beginning of pain symptoms to therapy was 8.5 weeks. Vertebroplasty was technically successful in all evaluated patients. Pain severity decreased from 10 (defined at baseline as initial pain score) to 2.8 after 6 months and 2.7 after 12 months. Subjective quality of life was reported as very well, well or improved in 92 % (n = 26 after 6 months) or 100 % (n = 13 after 12 months). No need for additional analgesic therapy was observed in 69.3 % (n = 26) after 6 months and 61.5 % (n = 13) after 12 months. Eight newly developed vertebral fractures were observed during follow-up, with 5 fractures directly adjacent to previously treated vertebrae. Leakage of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) into the intervertebral space or spinal canal was observed in 22 % and 20 % respectively (n = 50 vertebrae) . No neurologic deterioration or complications requiring surgery were observed., Conclusion: Vertebroplasty is a successful therapeutic approach for the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral fractures. Persistent improvement of clinical symptoms was shown at follow-up after 6 and 12 months.

Purpose: To evaluate the influence of clinical information on the diagnostic validity of MRI in the detection of abacterial sacroiliitis. Evaluation of sensitivities, specificities, negative (NPV) and positive predictive values (PPV) for MRI with and without clinical information in comparison to a prior defined standard., Materials and Methods: The results of routine MRI reports of 65 patients with the clinical suspicion of abacterial sacroiliitis referred by rheumatologists for MR assessment of the sacroiliac joints were retrospectively reviewed. These results were compared to the results of a blinded reading of the same examinations performed without any clinical information. The MRI protocol included T1-SE, STIR and T1-SE contrast-enhanced sequences with fat saturation. All patients were followed for at least four years. The standard of reference was defined by an experienced rheumatologist and included baseline and follow-up data (clinical, laboratory and imaging). Abacterial sacroiliitis was diagnosed in 19 patients., Results: Under routine clinical conditions, MRI revealed a sensitivity of 94.7 % and specificity of 97.8 %. A PPV of 94.7 % and a NPV of 97.8 % were achieved. Without clinical information, MRI revealed a sensitivity and specificity of 64 and 80 %, and a PPV of 49 % and a NPV of 86 %, respectively., Conclusion: The additional knowledge of clinical information for the MR diagnosis of abacterial sacroiliitis increases its diagnostic value for the assessment of abacterial sacroiliitis.

Purpose: To evaluate ultrasound-guided percutaneous thrombin injection to treat iatrogenic femoral pseudoaneurysms following catheter interventions., Materials and Methods: In a period of 2 years and 11 months, 55 iatrogenic femoral pseudoaneurysms were treated in 54 patients (male : female = 29 : 25) by percutaneous thrombin injection under continuous color Doppler control. Mean maximum diameter of the perfused lumen was 2.5 cm (SD +/- 1 cm). The injected thrombin doses varied between 10 and 2,000 U (median 200 U)., Results: Following thrombin injection, the pseudoaneurysm occlusion rate was 100 % (n = 55/55). Complete and persistent occlusion was achieved in 54 of 55 (98 %) pseudoaneurysms. A repeated procedure was necessary in 6 pseudoaneurysms. In one case (2 %), discrete signs of reperfusion were observed after primary occlusion within 24 hours of the initial procedure (lumen diameter 3 x 5 mm), followed by spontaneous thrombosis without further treatment. No complications, in particular no clinically manifest thromboembolic events, were observed., Conclusion: Ultrasound-guided percutaneous thrombin injection is an effective and safe method for the treatment of iatrogenic post catheterization femoral pseudoaneurysms.