title: Athletic injuries of the extensor carpi ulnaris subsheath: MRI findings and utility of gadolinium-enhanced fat-saturated T1-weighted sequences with wrist pronation and supination.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in athletic injuries of the extensor carpi ulnaris (ECU) subsheath, assessing the utility of gadolinium-enhanced (Gd) fat-saturated (FS) T1-weighted sequences with wrist pronation and supination.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen patients (13 male, three female; mean age 30.3 years) with athletic injuries of the ECU subsheath sustained between January 2003 and June 2009 were included in this retrospective study. Initial and follow-up 1.5-T wrist MRIs were performed with transverse T1-weighted and STIR sequences in pronation, and Gd FS T1-weighted sequences with wrist pronation and supination. Two radiologists assessed the type of injury (A to C), ECU tendon stability, associated lesions and rated pulse sequences using a three-point scale: 1=poor, 2=good and 3=excellent.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Gd-enhanced FS T1-weighted transverse sequences in supination (2.63) and pronation (2.56) were most valuable, compared with STIR (2.19) and T1-weighted (1.94). Nine type A, one type B and six type C injuries were found. There were trends towards diminution in size, signal intensity and enhancement of associated pouches on follow-up MRI and tendon stabilisation within the ulnar groove.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gd-enhanced FS T1-weighted sequences with wrist pronation and supination are most valuable in assessing and follow-up athletic injuries of the ECU subsheath on 1.5-T MRI.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology B, Hôpital Cochin, AP-HP, Université Paris Descartes, Rue du Faubourg Saint-Jacques 27, 75014, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Jeremy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jeantroux
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Becce
authors.forename: Henri
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Guerini
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Montalvan
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Le Viet
authors.forename: Jean-Luc
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Drapé
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005682:Gadolinium; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D011859:Radiography; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014954:Wrist Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014955:Wrist Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*
chemical_list: D005682:Gadolinium