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Role of MRI in Prevention of Metatarsal Stress Fractures in Collegiate Basketball Players

¹ Department of Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, Box 3808, Erwin Rd., Durham, NC 27710.

OBJECTIVE. Metatarsal stress fractures are common and represent debilitating and potentially season-ending injuries for basketball players. Bone marrow edema is readily visualized on MRI and can be a sign of stress changes. Twenty-six asymptomatic male National Collegiate Athletic Association basketball players were imaged before the 2003-2004 season and 14 players were reimaged after the conclusion of the season with a screening study of long- and short-axis fat-suppressed T2-weighted images (TR/effective TE, 3,500/56) to identify bone marrow edema in the metatarsals.

CONCLUSION. Six (12%) of 52 feet showed a signal indicating bone marrow edema in the metatarsals. MRI depicts bone marrow edema in the feet before a fracture becomes evident. Identification of this edema may reveal stress changes, allowing early treatment and prevention of debilitating stress fractures.

Keywords: basketball • metatarsals • MRI • stress fracture