Imaging-detected sports injuries and imaging-guided interventions in athletes during the 2022 FIFA football (soccer) World Cup

Abstract

Objective: To describe imaging-detected musculoskeletal injuries and image-guided interventional procedures during the 2022 FIFA football (soccer) World Cup.

Materials and methods: Retrospective analysis of all radiologic examinations performed in a central medical facility for athletes was performed by two board certified musculoskeletal radiologists. Data on muscle, tendon, ligament, cartilage, and bone injuries were collected according to imaging modality and body part.

Results: A total of 143 radiology examinations in 94 athletes were evaluated at the central medical facility. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was the most utilized modality (67%), followed by radiography (12%), ultrasonography (9%), and computed tomography (4%). Image-guided interventions corresponded to 8% of all radiological examinations. There were 112 injuries described, affecting muscles and tendons (42%), ligaments (25%), cartilage (21%), and bone (12%). Most injured body parts were thigh (27%), foot and ankle (23%), knee (23%), and hip/groin (8%). Most injured players were within the age range of 24-35 years old (71%).

Conclusion: Imaging was utilized in 11% of players who participated in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. MRI was the most utilized modality, and acute muscle tears were the most diagnosed type of injury. Diagnostic imaging played an important role in diagnosing sports-related injuries during the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Keywords: Football; Image-guided procedure; MRI; Musculoskeletal; Radiography; Radiology; Soccer; Sports injuries; US.

Fig. 1

Frequency of imaging examinations for each body part

Fig. 2

Muscle tear with MR/US correlation. a Axial T2-weighted fat suppressed MR image of the thigh. Myofascial tear with edema (arrow) at the posterolateral and distal aspect of the long head of the biceps femoris muscle, consistent with a grade 1 tear. b Corresponding longitudinal US image of the thigh shows aponeurotic thickening (arrows) with myofascial hyperechogenicity and loss of fibrillar pattern (arrowheads)

Fig. 3

Complete tendon tear. Coronal (a) and axial (b) T2-weighted and fat-suppressed MR images of the groin region. Complete tear of the right proximal adductor longus tendon at the pubic ramus (arrow) with distal retraction, loss of muscle tension, and surrounding edema

Fig. 4

Ligamentous tear of the deltoid complex of the ankle—MR/US correlation. Coronal T2-weighted fat-suppressed MR images of the ankle show, in a more anterior image (a), tear of the superficial bundles of the deltoid ligament (white arrows) with flexor retinaculum tear (arrowheads) and periosteal stripping with edema. In a more posterior image (b), tear of the deep bundle of the deltoid ligament (black arrow) is demonstrated. Corresponding longitudinal US image (c) shows flexor retinaculum thickening and hypoechogenicity (arrowheads) at the medial malleolus (*) insertion with tear of the deep bundle of the deltoid ligament (black arrow)