Magnetic resonance imaging findings associated with posterior ankle impingement syndrome are prevalent in elite ballet dancers and athletes

Peta Baillie, Jill Cook, Katia Ferrar, Peter Smith, Jason Lam, Susan Mayes

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

9 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Objective: To report the prevalence of MRI features commonly associated with posterior ankle impingement syndrome in elite ballet dancers and athletes and to compare findings between groups. Materials and methods: Thirty-eight professional ballet dancers (47.4% women) were age- and sex-matched to 38 elite soccer or cricket fast bowler athletes. All participants were training, playing, and performing at full workload and underwent 3.0-T standardised magnetic resonance imaging of one ankle. De-identified images were assessed by one senior musculoskeletal radiologist for findings associated with posterior ankle impingement syndrome (os trigonum, Stieda process, posterior talocrural and subtalar joint effusion-synovitis, flexor hallucis longus tendon pathology and tenosynovitis, and posterior ankle bone marrow oedema). Imaging scoring reliability testing was performed. Results: Posterior talocrural effusion-synovitis (90.8%) and subtalar joint effusion-synovitis (93.4%) were common in both groups, as well as the presence of either an os trigonum or Stieda process (61.8%). Athletes had a higher prevalence of either os trigonum or Stieda process than dancers (74%, 50% respectively, P = 0.03). Male athletes had a higher prevalence of either os trigonum or Stieda process than male dancers (90%, 50% respectively, P = 0.01), or female athletes (56%, P = 0.02). Posterior subtalar joint effusion-synovitis size was larger in dancers than athletes (P = 0.02). Male and female dancers had similar imaging findings. There was at least moderate interobserver and intraobserver agreement for most MRI findings. Conclusion: Imaging features associated with posterior impingement were prevalent in all groups. The high prevalence of os trigonum or Stieda process in male athletes suggests that this is a typical finding in this population.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2423-2431
Number of pages9
JournalSkeletal Radiology
Volume50
Issue number12
DOIs
Publication statusPublished or Issued - Dec 2021
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Ballet
  • Fast bowler
  • MR imaging
  • Os trigonum
  • Posterior ankle impingement syndrome
  • Soccer
  • Stieda process

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging

Cite this