Imaging and Classification of Hamstring Muscle Injury

Description

In this presentation, Julian Chakraverty, a consultant and state radiologist from Bristol, discusses the imaging and classification of hamstring muscle injuries. He begins by outlining the necessity of grading muscle injuries to assess their severity, management options, and potential recurrence in athletes. Chakraverty reviews different classification systems, with a focus on the BAMIC system, which he favors despite acknowledging its imperfections. He explores the Peetrons and Munich grading systems, discussing their strengths and weaknesses, particularly their inability to account for connective tissue involvement. He highlights a more comprehensive approach taken by the BARCA/Aspetar group, which takes into account the complexity of muscle and tendon injuries, offering a detailed grading system that considers cross-sectional involvement and injury history.



Chakraverty emphasizes the importance of clear communication of findings to facilitate effective treatment decisions. He illustrates various types of injuries through case studies and imaging, contrasting different injury mechanisms, like intratendinous and myotendinous injuries, and the complexity involved in diagnosing distal T-junction injuries. Ultimately, he calls for an update to the BAMIC classification, suggesting that muscle-specific injury classification systems, akin to fracture classification systems, could improve clarity and care in clinical practice. He concludes by inviting further discussion on the topic.

DOI: 10.1302/3114-210650

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