PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Daichi Hayashi
AU  - Mohamed Jarraya
AU  - Lars Engebretsen
AU  - Michel D Crema
AU  - Frank W Roemer
AU  - Abdalla Skaf
AU  - Ali Guermazi
TI  - Epidemiology of imaging-detected bone stress injuries in athletes participating in the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Summer Olympics
AID  - 10.1136/bjsports-2017-098189
DP  - 2018 Apr 01
TA  - British Journal of Sports Medicine
PG  - 470--474
VI  - 52
IP  - 7
4099  - http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/52/7/470.short
4100  - http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/52/7/470.full
SO  - Br J Sports Med2018 Apr 01; 52
AB  - Background Bone stress injuries are common in high-level athletics.Aim To describe the demographics, frequency and anatomical location of stress injuries (ie, stress reaction and stress fractures) in athletes at the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Summer Olympic Games.Methods We recorded all sports injuries at the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Summer Olympics reported by the National Olympic Committee (NOC) medical teams and in the polyclinic and medical venues. Imaging was performed through the official IOC clinic within the Olympic Village, using digital X-ray cameras and 3T and 1.5T magnetic resonance (MR) scanners. Images were read centrally and retrospectively by musculoskeletal radiologists with expertise in sports injuries.Results 11 274 athletes (5089 women (45%), 6185 men (55%)) from 207 NOCs participated in the study. 1101 injuries were reported. Imaging revealed 9 stress fractures (36%) and 16 stress reactions (64%) in 18 female and 7 male athletes (median age 25 years, age range 18–32). Stress injuries were mostly in the lower extremities (84%), particularly tibia (44%) and metatarsals (12%), with two in the lumbar spine (8%). Stress injuries were most common in track and field athletes (44%) followed by volleyball players (16%), gymnastics (artistic) (12%) and other type of sports.Conclusions Twenty-five bone stress injuries were reported, more commonly in women, mostly in the lower extremities and most commonly in track and field athletes. Our study demonstrates the importance of early imaging with MRI to detect stress reactions before they can progress to stress fractures.