Abstract: One-third of acute groin injuries are hip flexor-related, yet little is known about the specifics of these injuries. This study aimed to compare particular muscle injuries with reported injury scenarios and use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to describe acute hip flexor injuries in athletes with acute groin discomfort. Three sports seasons saw the prospective and sequential inclusion of male athletes with acute groin discomfort. Within 7 days following the accident, an MRI was carried out utilizing a dependable evaluation method and a standardized methodology. Included were all athletes whose acute hip flexor muscle injuries were determined by MRI.

A total of 156 athletes—of whom 33 athletes with a median age of 26 years (range, 18–35)—presented with acute groin discomfort. sixteen rectus femoris, twelve iliacus, seven psoas major, four sartorius, and one tensor fascia lathe injuries were reported. Kicking and running were the main causes of rectus femoris injuries while changing directions caused iliacus injuries more frequently. Tendonous damage was seen in 10 (63%) of the rectus femoris lesions. The MTJ was primarily the site of the iliacus and psoas major injuries, two of which contained tendinous damage.

In these muscles, we have highlighted specific damage sites that may be important for these injuries' clinical diagnosis and outcome. The majority of proximal rectus femoris injuries also involved tendinopathy. However, different acute iliacus and psoas injuries mostly happened at the MTJ. Only the iliacus or psoas major was injured during a change of direction, whereas rectus femoris injuries occurred primarily during kicking and sprinting.

Keywords: diagnosis; groin pain; hip; iliopsoas; imaging; muscle injuries; rectus femoris; thigh.

| DOI: 10.17148/IARJSET.2023.10758