In sonoelastography, the recognition of normal tendon structure will be useful in assessing pathologies of the Achilles tendon. Additionally, in patients with excellent American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) scores and surgically repaired complete ruptures, a hard and heterogeneous pattern of tendon structure may be a natural consequence of tendon healing.

Aims: The comparison of elastographic features of quadriceps and patellar tendons in a group of professional athletes and healthy volunteers and the description of elasticity characteristics of these tendons. Material and methods: Thirtynine professional athletes (22 male, 17 female; mean age 18.5 years) and 35 healthy volunteers (21 male, 14 female; mean age 19 years) were included. They were divided into two groups by gender. Quadriceps tendon, patellar side of the patellar tendon, and tibial side of the patellar tendon elasticity patterns and strain ratios were investigated with real-time ultrasound elastography. The elasticity features of the dominant leg and non-dominant leg of athletes and volunteers legs were compared. In addition quadriceps and patellar tendons were compared separately for three distinct tendon locations. Results: There was no difference between the athletes and the healthy volunteers and also between the dominant leg and non-dominant leg of athletes. At tendon comparison, the quadriceps tendon was harder than the patellar tendon at both side and patellar side of patellar tendon was found to be stiffer than the tibial side of patellar tendon. Conclusions: Although biomechanical studies showed that tendon stiffness increased after long exercise, no significant difference was found between athletes' and healthy volunteers' tendon elasticity. These three tendon locations exhibit different elasticity features and the knowledge of the elasticity feature will be useful in assessing tendon pathologies.

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Purpose:To determine the correlation of MR findings with clinical features of osteitis pubis and to look for associating injuries complicating chronic cases. Materials and Methods:Pelvic MR images of the 22 elite athletes with groin pain were taken. Correlation analysis between the MR findings and clinical properties was carried out. Results:Six of the MR findings had strong correlation with duration of symptoms. Subchondral bone marrow edema, fluid in symphysis pubis joint, and periarticular edema had significant correlation with acuity of the case. On the contrary, subchondral sclerosis, subchondral resorption and bony margin irregularities, and osteophytes correlated with the chronicity of the case. Associated tendon injuries correlated with the duration of symptoms; i.e., all tendon injuries were in chronic cases. Conclusion:Subchondral bone marrow edema, fluid in symphysis pubis joint, and periarticular edema are the most reliable MRI findings of osteitis pubis that has a history of less than six months. Subchondral sclerosis, subchondral resorption and bony margin irregularities, and osteophytes (or pubic beaking) are the most reliable MRI findings of the chronic disease that has been present for more than six months. Associated pathologies, especially adductor or other tendon injuries, underlie more than half of the chronic cases of osteitis pubis.

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