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Semin Musculoskelet Radiol 2025; 29(03): 339-356
DOI: 10.1055/s-0045-1808097
Review Article

Imaging of Acute Musculotendinous Injuries

Stefano Fusco
1   Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche per la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
,
Eva Llopis
2   Department of Radiology, Hospital Ribera IMSKE, Valencia, Spain
,
Domenico Albano
3   IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Galeazzi, Milan, Italy
4   Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Chirurgiche ed Odontoiatriche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
,
Salvatore Gitto
1   Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche per la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
3   IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Galeazzi, Milan, Italy
,
Francesca Serpi
1   Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche per la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
,
Riccardo D'Ambrosi
1   Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche per la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
3   IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Galeazzi, Milan, Italy
,
Carmelo Messina
1   Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche per la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
5   U.O.C. Radiodiagnostica, ASST Centro Specialistico Ortopedico Traumatologico Gaetano Pini-CTO, Milan, Italy
,
Luca Maria Sconfienza 
1   Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche per la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
3   IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Galeazzi, Milan, Italy
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Abstract

Musculotendinous injuries represent a major concern in sports medicine, with significant implications for athlete recovery and performance. Ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging, in particular, play a crucial role in diagnosing and monitoring these injuries, guiding treatment strategies, and estimating prognosis. Understanding the anatomy and distribution of connective tissue is fundamental to identifying and classifying musculotendinous injuries accurately. This review focuses on the imaging features of musculotendinous injuries and their evolution, emphasizing the role of connective tissue and the anatomical differences influencing injury patterns. It also examines current grading systems and their prognostic value, highlighting the need for muscle-specific subclassifications to improve accuracy in predicting return to play.

Keywords

musculotendinous injuries - magnetic resonance imaging - ultrasound - sports injuries - connective tissue


Publication History

Article published online:
20 May 2025

© 2025. Thieme. All rights reserved.

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