Content area
Full Text
Skeletal Radiol (2012) 41:353355 DOI 10.1007/s00256-011-1335-8
CASE REPORT
Bilateral triradiate cartilage injury: an overuse syndrome in an adolescent football player
F. Bilge Ergen & Adalet Elcin Yildiz & Mehmet Ayvaz &
Ustun Aydingoz
Received: 12 September 2011 /Revised: 16 November 2011 /Accepted: 17 November 2011 /Published online: 14 December 2011 # ISS 2011
Abstract The triradiate cartilage is not a recognized site for an overuse injury. We present here X-ray and MRI findings of a young athlete with chronic right-sided hip pain that proved to be secondary to triradiate cartilage overuse injury. MRI also revealed similar but milder findings on the left side. Distal radial and proximal humeral epiphyses, iliac bone, tibial tubercle, calcaneal and proximal 5th metatarsal apophyses are common sites of overuse injuries in the skeletally immature athletes. Radiological findings may resemble a Salter-Harris type I injury, but an insidious onset of the symptoms, absence of acute trauma, and bilaterality of MRI findings may help differentiate these entities.
Keywords Triradiate cartilage . Overuse injury. MRI
Introduction
Skeletally immature athletes are subject to injuries of the open growth plates. The growth plate may be injured by a discrete traumatic event. They may also be affected by the repeated stress of sports activities resulting in an insidious presentation [1, 2]. These injuries may continue to be symptomatic over a long period. Inadequate treatment of these overuse injuries may prolong healing or sometimes result in
permanent deformity. Early diagnosis and treatment can prevent the more serious sequelae of these injuries [1, 2]. Here we present an adolescent football player who presented with right-sided hip pain secondary to triradiate cartilage overuse injury.
Case report
A 13-year-old adolescent male had been playing football for a year when he presented with a right-sided hip pain of about 5 months duration. He denied acute trauma. Physical examination revealed a normal-weight adolescent with a body mass index of 21.6 kg/m2 (normal). Musculoskeletal exam was not remarkable except for pain and a 10-degree restriction on internal rotation. His pelvis was stable to anteroposterior and lateral compression, and was non-tender over the ischial tuberosity, anterior superior iliac spine, and anterior inferior iliac spine. There was no pain or rotational restriction on the left side....