Are ultrasonographic findings like periosteal and tendinous edema associated with medial tibial stress syndrome? A case-control study

• Published in: Journal of science and medicine in sport 2017-02, Vol.20 (2), p.128-133
• Main Authors: Winters, Marinus, Bon, Paulien, Bijvoet, Sascha, Bakker, Eric W.P, Moen, Maarten H
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Athletic Injuries; Body mass index; Case-Control Studies; Edema; Female; Humans; Legs; Male; Medial tibial stress syndrome; Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome - diagnostic imaging; Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome - pathology; Medical imaging; Muscle, Skeletal - diagnostic imaging; Muscle, Skeletal - pathology; Odds Ratio; Pain; Pain Measurement - methods; Pathology; Periosteum - diagnostic imaging; Periosteum - pathology; Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation; Regression Analysis; Reliability; Sports Medicine; Studies; Tendons; Tendons - diagnostic imaging; Tendons - pathology; Ultrasonic imaging; Ultrasonography; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1440-2440; 1878-1861
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jsams.2016.07.001

Abstract Objectives Medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS) is one of the most common sporting injuries. As of yet, the development of effective therapeutic interventions to treat MTSS is hindered by the fact that its pathology is unknown. Our aim was to explore the pathology of MTSS, by assessing whether the presence of MTSS is related to periosteal, bony or tendinous abnormalities in the lower leg. Design Case-control study. Methods Participants with MTSS and athletic control participants were recruited from the same (high-risk) base population. Musculoskeletal ultrasonography was performed on the posteromedial tibial border and deep plantar flexor muscles by an experienced radiological specialist who was blinded to group membership. Associations between MTSS and tissue abnormalities were expressed in odds ratios (OR). Results A total of 42 participants, 15 MTSS cases and 27 control athletes completed the study. Overall, periosteal and tendinous abnormalities were common in cases with and without MTSS. Periosteal edema was present in 8 (53.3%) MTSS cases and in 10 (37.0%) control athletes, in specific painful spots in the distal 2/3 of the posteromedial tibial border OR = 1.9 (95% CI 0.54–6.99, p = 0.35). Also, tendinous abnormalities in the tibialis posterior muscle were frequently seen in MTSS cases ( N = 7, 46.7%) and in control athletes ( N = 13, 48.1%) (OR = 0.97, 95% CI 0.27–3.51, p = 0.96). No bone abnormalities were observed in either group. Conclusions Periosteal and tendinous findings seem to be common in both athletes with and without MTSS, and consequently are not associated with MTSS.