Imaging Review of Hockey-related Lower Extremity Injuries

Abstract

Hockey is a fast-paced contact sport with a high incidence of injuries. Although injuries are more frequent among elite players, recreational hockey injuries are a common issue faced by primary care and emergency physicians. Lower extremity injuries in hockey are particularly important because they account for approximately a third of all injuries and > 60% of all overuse injuries. This pictorial review provides the general and specialty trained radiologist with a knowledge of the patterns of lower extremity injury that occur in ice hockey.

Ankle Sprains in Athletes: Current Epidemiological, Clinical and Imaging Trends

“…34 Ice hockey is the most common sport to result in a high ankle sprain. 35 High ankle sprain results in significantly higher time to return to play (average: 41-45 days) as compared with low ankle sprain (average: 1.4 days). 35 Ankle instability has a high rate of chronification.…”

“…35 High ankle sprain results in significantly higher time to return to play (average: 41-45 days) as compared with low ankle sprain (average: 1.4 days). 35 Ankle instability has a high rate of chronification. 36 Chronic ankle instability with persistent frequent residual symptoms, sprain recurrence and subjective ankle instability is observed in 10-40% of the cases.…”

“…Interestingly, MR imaging findings do not correlate with return to play following an ankle sprain. 35 Imaging findings in patients with persistent ankle instability are mainly ATFL injuries (54%) and osteochondral changes (40%) including cartilage lesions, osteophytes, and BME. 41,99 To assess osteoarthritis on MRI, semi-quantitative scoring methods have been developed for the knee (WORMS), 101 the shoulder (SOAS), 102 the hip (SHOMRI), 103 and also for the ankle (Ankle Osteoarthritis Scoring System, AOSS).…”