Role of MRI in prevention of metatarsal stress fractures in collegiate basketball players.
OBJECTIVE
Metatarsal stress fractures are common and represent debilitating and potentially season-ending injuries for basketball players. Bone marrow edema is readily visualized on MRI and can be a sign of stress changes. Twenty-six asymptomatic male National Collegiate Athletic Association basketball players were imaged before the 2003-2004 season and 14 players were reimaged after the conclusion of the season with a screening study of long- and short-axis fat-suppressed T2-weighted images (TR/effective TE, 3,500/56) to identify bone marrow edema in the metatarsals.


CONCLUSIONS
Six (12%) of 52 feet showed a signal indicating bone marrow edema in the metatarsals. MRI depicts bone marrow edema in the feet before a fracture becomes evident. Identification of this edema may reveal stress changes, allowing early treatment and prevention of debilitating stress fractures.
Major
Nancy M
NM
Department of Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, Box 3808, Erwin Road, Durham, NC 27710, USA. nancy.major@duke.edu
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001490:Basketball / Q000293:injuries*; D001855:Bone Marrow Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004487:Edema / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015775:Fractures, Stress / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008682:Metatarsal Bones / Q000293:injuries*