Asymptomatic lumbar spine pathology is a common MRI finding among elite adolescent footballers from professional academies in England, according to a study published in BMCSportsSciMedRehabil.
Sagittal T2 sequence demonstrating high signal in the left L5 pedicle and pars interarticularis indicating acute bone stress . There is a suggestion of a low signal fracture line, but this is not definitive.Sagittal 3D T1 spoiled gradient echo VIBE sequence demonstrating a definitive fracture line in the left L5 pars interarticularis in the region of bone marrow oedema shown in the T2 sequence
. This extends posterosuperiorly from the inferior cortex of the pars but does not reach the superior cortex in keeping with an incomplete fracture. The fracture margins are indistinct which in combination with the bone oedema seen inSeven of the 18 players demonstrated disc degeneration at one or more levels, involving twelve out of 108 discs from T12/L1 to L5/S1. The most common level for disc degeneration was at L5/S1, with three of these being mild and two moderate.
. This sequence definitively confirms the presence of a fracture line within the left L5 pars interarticularis, extending from the inferior to the superior cortex in keeping with a complete fracture. The fracture margins are corticated in keeping with this being a chronic ununited complete pars stress fracture and this is supported by the absence of bone marrow oedema on the FST2 sequence