Side strain: a tear of internal oblique musculature.
OBJECTIVE
Our objective was to describe the normal MRI anatomy of the musculature of the lateral abdominal wall and the findings in athletes with side strain injury.


CONCLUSIONS
MRI can delineate the sheets of musculature that make up the lateral abdominal wall. Side strain injury is caused by tearing of the internal oblique muscle from the undersurface of one of the lower four ribs or costal cartilages. MRI can document the site of a muscle tear, characterize the severity of injury, and monitor healing.
Connell
David A
DA
MRI Department, Victoria House Hospital, 316 Malvern Rd., Prahran, Victoria 3181, Australia. dconnell@netscape.net.au
Jhamb
Ash
A
James
Trefor
T
D000009:Abdominal Muscles / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology*; D034861:Abdominal Wall / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013180:Sprains and Strains / Q000473:pathology*; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices