Purpose To study distractive muscle injuries applying US and MRI specific classifications and to find if any correlation exists between the results and the return to sport (RTS) time. The second purpose is to evaluate which classification has the best prognostic value and if the lesions extension correlates with the RTS time. Methods A total of 26 male, professional soccer players (age 21.3 ± 5.6), diagnosed with traumatic muscle injury of the lower limbs, received ultrasound and MRI evaluation within 2 days from the trauma. Concordance between US and MRI findings was investigated. The relationships between MRI and US based injury grading scales and RTS time were evaluated. Correlation between injuries’ longitudinal extension and RTS time was also investigated. Results The correlation between US and MRI measurements returned a Spearman value of rs = 0.61 (p = .001). Peetrons and Mueller-Wohlfahrt grading scales correlations with RTS time were r = 0.43 (p = .02) and r = 0.83 (p =  < .001). The lesion’s extension correlation with RTS time was r = 0.63 (p < .001). The correlation between the site of the lesion and its location with the RTS time were rs = 0.2 and rs = 0.25. Conclusions Both US and MRI can be used as prognostic indicators along with the Peetrons (US) and the Mueller-Wohlfahrt (MRI) classifications. MRI is more precise and generates more reproducible results. The lesion craniocaudal extension must be considered as a prognostic indicator, while the injury location inside the muscle or along its major axis has doubtful significance.

Objective To evaluate the long-term evolution of matrix-induced autologous chondrocyte implantation (MACI) with magnetic resonance (MR) arthrography and verify the correlation between radiological and clinical findings. Materials and methods Twenty-six patients (20 m/6f) were diagnosed with knee chondral injuries and treated with MACI implantation. Each patient received MR arthrography and clinical examination at mid-term (range 22–36 months) and long term (range 96–194 months) after surgery. MR arthrography was performed with dedicated coil and a 1.5-Tesla MR unit. The modified MOCART scale was used to evaluate the status of chondral implants. Implant coating, integration to the border zone, and the surface and structure of the repaired tissue were evaluated. Presence of bone marrow oedema was evaluated. The Cincinnati Knee Rating System (CKRS) was used for clinical assessment. Results At long term, 4/26 patients had complete alignment; 5/26 had a complete integration of the margins; in 4/26 cases, the implant surface was undamaged; in 14/26 cases, the reparative tissue was homogeneous. In 9/26 cases, the implant showed isointense signal compared to articular cartilage, while the presence of subchondral bone oedema was documented in 19/26 cases. The average radiological score decreased from 59.2 (mid-term) to 38.6 (long term). The average clinical score decreased from 8.9 to 8.3. Conclusions Decrease in clinical results was not significant (0.6 points p = .06), but mMOCART scores decreased significantly (p = .00003). Although imaging studies showed deterioration of the grafts, the patients did not have significant clinical deterioration (231/250).

Objectives To provide quantitative anatomical parameters in patients with and without non-traumatic multidirectional instability using MR arthrography (MR-a). Materials and methods One hundred and seventy-six MR-a performed from January 2020 to March 2021 were retrospectively evaluated. Patients were divided according to the presence of clinically diagnosed multidirectional shoulder instability (MDI). Each MR-a was performed immediately after intra-articular injection of 20 ml of gadolinium using the anterior approach. The width of the axillary recess, the width of the rotator interval, and the circumference of the glenoid were measured by three independent radiologists, choosing the average value of the measurements. The difference between the mean values of each of the three parameters between the two study groups was then assessed. Results Thirty-seven patients were included in the study (20 in the MDI group, 17 in the control group). The mean axillary recess width in the MDI group was significantly greater than in the control group (t(33) = 3.15, p = .003); rotator interval width and glenoid circumference measurements were not significantly different (t(35) = 1.75, p = .08 and t(30) = 0,51, p = .6, respectively). Conclusions Inferior capsular redundancy may be an important predisposing factor in MDI, while glenoid circumference is not related to MDI. The relationship between the width of the rotator interval and shoulder instability remains debated.

Intra-articular loose bodies can be a non-obvious cause of chronic joint pain. Patients often undergo many conventional treatments, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), physiotherapy, TECAR-therapy, laser-therapy or infiltration therapy, often achieving little or no benefits. In our experience, in such cases, when an intra-articular or intrabursal loose body is detected, it is likely to be the actual source of pain. The aim of our study is to propose a new US-guided technique to remove intra-articular loose bodies, which is mini-invasive, costeffective and can be used to eliminate the source of pain with little or no discomfort for the patient.

Background: Wandering spleen is an unusual condition characterized by hypermobility of the spleen. Excessive mobility can cause torsion of the vascular pedicle with subsequent complications such as ischemia and necrosis. Clinical manifestations can vary from asymptomatic to abdominal emergency and treatment is often surgical. Case Presentation: We presented a case report of splenic torsion in a 24-year-old woman with complaints of upper abdominal pain associated with mild left hypochondrial tenderness. Laboratory testing and ultrasound were completely negative making the diagnosis difficult. A computed tomography (CT) scan was carried out due to worsening symptoms and it demonstrated a splenic torsion with involvement of the distal part of the pancreatic tail. Surgery was performed by laparoscopic splenectomy. No signs of pancreatitis were found. Conclusion: Splenic torsion is a rare but important differential diagnosis in patients with an acute abdomen and CT is often necessary to achieve the correct diagnosis and exclude possible complications.