John Winslow1, Andrew Getzin2, Hilary Greenberger1, Walter Silbert3. 1. Department of Physical Therapy, Ithaca College, Ithaca, New York. 2. Sports Medicine, Cayuga Medical Center, Ithaca, New York. 3. Musculoskeletal Radiology, Radiology Associates of Ithaca, Cayuga Medical Center, Ithaca, New York.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the predictive value of fatty infiltrate of the lumbar multifidus muscles (LMM) for return to play in young athletes with extension-based low back pain (EB LBP). DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Hospital-based sports medicine practice. PATIENTS: Sixty-two athletes, 61.3% female, and 38.7% male, mean age 14.8 years, with a primary complaint of EB LBP who underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); 46.8% had a pars interarticularis stress reaction or fracture and 53.2% were MRI negative. INTERVENTIONS: A musculoskeletal fellowship-trained radiologist reviewed MRI for all subjects and graded the degree of fatty infiltrate of the LMM, using the Goutallier classification system (GCS), at the L4/L5 and L5/S1 levels. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Days to return to play after first MD visit were correlated with the amount of fatty infiltrate in the LMM measured on MRI for each subject. RESULTS: When the level of fatty infiltrate increased to a 2 or 3 on the GCS (greater than fatty streaks in the muscle), the predicted probability of return to sport decreased significantly. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated that athletes with EB LBP and fatty infiltrate in the LMM had lower odds of return to sport compared with athletes with normal muscle. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II B. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This study provides sports medicine clinicians with a prognostic tool to help manage young athletes with EB LBP. Clinicians can make decisions regarding rehabilitation and return to play based on MRI findings.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the predictive value of fatty infiltrate of the lumbar multifidus muscles (LMM) for return to play in young athletes with extension-based low back pain (EB LBP). DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Hospital-based sports medicine practice. PATIENTS: Sixty-two athletes, 61.3% female, and 38.7% male, mean age 14.8 years, with a primary complaint of EB LBP who underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); 46.8% had a pars interarticularis stress reaction or fracture and 53.2% were MRI negative. INTERVENTIONS: A musculoskeletal fellowship-trained radiologist reviewed MRI for all subjects and graded the degree of fatty infiltrate of the LMM, using the Goutallier classification system (GCS), at the L4/L5 and L5/S1 levels. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Days to return to play after first MD visit were correlated with the amount of fatty infiltrate in the LMM measured on MRI for each subject. RESULTS: When the level of fatty infiltrate increased to a 2 or 3 on the GCS (greater than fatty streaks in the muscle), the predicted probability of return to sport decreased significantly. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated that athletes with EB LBP and fatty infiltrate in the LMM had lower odds of return to sport compared with athletes with normal muscle. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II B. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This study provides sports medicine clinicians with a prognostic tool to help manage young athletes with EB LBP. Clinicians can make decisions regarding rehabilitation and return to play based on MRI findings.
Authors: Timothy H Retchford; Kylie J Tucker; Harvi F Hart; Adam I Semciw; Patrick Weinrauch; Alison Grimaldi; Sallie M Cowan; Kay M Crossley; Joanne L Kemp Journal: Int J Sports Phys Ther Date: 2022-08-01