Isolated spontaneous non-insertional tear of the iliopsoas tendon in an elderly patient: significance of ultrasound imaging

• Published in: Journal of ultrasound
• Main Authors: Chapala, S, Mettu, S, Shirodkar, K, Iyengar, Karthikeyan P, Beale, D, Botchu, Rajesh
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Italy 26.07.2024
• Subjects: Soft tissue injuries; Pain; Magnetic resonance imaging; Groin; Male; Hip Joint; Tendons
• ISSN: 1876-7931; 1876-7931
• DOI: 10.1007/s40477-024-00945-1

Isolated spontaneous tears in the non-insertional portion of the iliopsoas tendon without any underlying injury are uncommon, especially among elderly individuals. We describe the case of an 88-year-old man who experienced right groin pain caused by a spontaneous non-insertional tear in the iliopsoas tendon identified through ultrasound and confirmed via MRI. Ultrasound revealed hypoechogenicity in the non-insertional portion of the iliopsoas tendon, leading to quick identification and conservative treatment and resulting in positive functional outcomes. This case report emphasises the significance of considering spontaneous non-insertional iliopsoas tendon tears when evaluating cases of acute groin pain. This finding underscores the effectiveness of ultrasound as an initial diagnostic tool for the early cost-effective diagnosis of soft tissue injuries around the hip joint, especially in low-resource settings. Timely detection and management can help avoid unnecessary operative interventions and facilitate faster and better recovery.