Semin Musculoskelet Radiol 2018; 22(S 01): S1-S5
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1639515
Scientific Presentations and Posters
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Lumbrical Muscle Tear: Clinical Presentation, Imaging, Findings and Outcome

Christoph Lutter
1   Department of Sports Orthopaedics, Sports Medicine, Sports Traumatology, Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Klinikum Bamberg, Germany
2   CVPath Institute, Gaithersburg, Maryland
,
Andreas Schweizer
3   Hand Surgery Department, Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
,
Volker Schöffl
1   Department of Sports Orthopaedics, Sports Medicine, Sports Traumatology, Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Klinikum Bamberg, Germany
4   Department of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany
5   Department of Emergency Medicine, Section Wilderness Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver, Colorado
,
Frank Römer
6   Department of Radiology, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany
,
Thomas Bayer
6   Department of Radiology, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany
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Publikationsdatum:
26. März 2018 (online)

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Purpose: The incidence of lumbrical muscle tear is increasing due to the popularity of climbing sports. However, there is a paucity of studies regarding these injuries in the literature.

Material and Methods: We reviewed data from 60 consecutive patients with positive lumbrical stress tests including clinical examination (n = 60/60), ultrasound (n = 60/60), magnetic resonance imaging (n = 12/60), and outcomes (n = 60/60). Lumbrical muscle tears were graded according to the severity of clinical and imaging findings as grade I to III injuries. Conservative therapy consisted of adapted functional therapy.

Results: Overall, 30% of patients had grade I injuries (microtrauma), 53% had grade II injuries (muscle fiber disruption), and 16% had grade III injuries (musculotendinous disruption). All patients had an uncomplicated outcome with a complete recovery. The healing period of grade III injuries was significantly longer than in the two other groups (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: We recommend the evaluation of specific clinical and imaging findings of lumbrical muscle tears for adequate grading and determination of therapy.