[Osteitis pubis or symphysitis pubis].

CLINICAL/METHODICAL ISSUE: Osteitis pubis is one of the most common causes of chronic groin pain in many professional athletes. Symphysitis pubis with instability of the joint due to softening of the joint capsule and muscular imbalance of the corresponding muscles increases the instability of the sympyseal region, thus, resulting in a vicious cycle. STANDARD RADIOLOGICAL
METHODS: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). METHODICAL INNOVATIONS: Optimized MRI sequence protocol with oblique (axial oblique) layers parallel to the linea arcuata of iliac bone together with large image field for depiction of the entire pelvis and high-resolution sequences focused on the symphysis pubis. PERFORMANCE: Recently, the correlation between MRI signs of osteitis pubis and long-term clinical outcome in a group of professional soccer players was examined. In particular, edema in the peri-osseous tissue and isolated muscle lesions around the symphysis at the onset of symptoms were associated with partial recovery of the athletes. Furthermore, a significant association of increased normalized signal intensity in the pubic bone on STIR (short-tau inversion recovery) sequences (corresponding presence and signal intensity of bone marrow edema) and a poor complete clinical improvement was observed. ACHIEVEMENTS: An optimized MRI protocol allows the diagnosis of osteitis pubis and provides important prognostic information. PRACTICAL RECOMMENDATIONS: In case of clinical suspicion on osteitis pubis, MR imaging with an optimized sequence protocol should be performed.