title: Pubic magnetic resonance imaging findings in surgically and conservatively treated athletes with osteitis pubis compared to asymptomatic athletes during heavy training.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Osteitis pubis is characterized by diffuse pain, inflammation, and bony changes in the pubic symphysis. Bone marrow edema in magnetic resonance imaging is associated with stress injury and osteitis of the pubic bone.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Laparoscopic mesh repair decreases inflammation and pain in the pubic periosteum. The presence of extensive bone marrow edema may correlate with the severity of symptoms and may guide the surgical treatment of osteitis pubis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case control study; Level of evidence, 4.
  
  
  METHODS
  Surgery (n = 8) was performed by placement of totally extraperitoneal endoscopic mesh behind the symphysis. Nonoperative treatment (n = 8) included physical therapy and corticosteroids. Preoperative and postoperative pain was measured by the visual analog scale. Athletes were followed up from 1 to 6 years (mean, 2.7 years). All magnetic resonance imaging scans were analyzed blindly by 2 radiologists. Twenty asymptomatic ice hockey or soccer players served as controls in magnetic resonance imaging.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patients treated surgically had higher preoperative pain scores than did the patients treated conservatively. Seven of 8 athletes (88%) treated surgically returned to sport activities after 2 months of convalescence. No complications were associated with surgery. In the nonoperative group, 4 patients (50%) still had disabling symptoms after 1 year of follow-up, and they stopped their elite sports during 3 years of follow-up. The presence of bone marrow edema was distributed in the surgical (100%), nonoperative (88%), and asymptomatic athletes (65%) with no statistical difference between the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study indicated that the placement of retropubic mesh was an efficient method for the treatment of severe pubic enthesopathy in athletes. Abnormal magnetic resonance imaging findings were also common in asymptomatic athletes, which decreases the value of magnetic resonance imaging in surgical decision-making.
authors: Department of Surgery, Central Hospital of Mikkeli, Mikkeli, Finland. hannu.paajanen@esshp.fi
authors: Hannu
authors: H
authors: Paajanen
authors: Heikki
authors: H
authors: Hermunen
authors: Jari
authors: J
authors: Karonen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D054874:Athletic Performance; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D010000:Osteitis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D010806:Physical Education and Training; D011630:Pubic Bone / Q000473:pathology*; D013526:Surgical Mesh; D016896:Treatment Outcome