Improving the assessment of myotendinous injuries on professional athletes using Ultrasound-MRI fusion exploration

Motivation: US-MRI fusion could provide more accurate information for muscle injury evaluation and follow-up. To date, some works were conducted in the scope of prostate pathology, but only a few focused on musculoskeletal imaging. Goal(s): This study aimed to evaluate if US-MRI fusion would allow more detailed and precise characterization of myotendinous injuries. Approach: US only and US-MRI fusion images were reviewed and scored in terms of muscle injury detection, as well as scar, tendon and edema visualization. Results: US-MRI fusion allowed a better characterization of lesions and healing process on professional athletes suffering from myotendinous injuries compared to US alone. Impact: Diagnosis of muscle injuries by US is a challenge, so MRI is still the gold standard in most cases. Combining both techniques, we can better characterize and follow-up lesions, detecting a slowdown in healing or complications as soon as possible.