Injury Patterns and Conservative Management in Elite Handball: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Diagnosis and Rehabilitation

TL;DR

This paper shows how MRI helps diagnose and treat injuries in elite handball players, leading to faster recovery through personalized care.

Contribution

The study highlights MRI's role in accurately diagnosing complex handball injuries and the success of individualized conservative treatments.

Findings

MRI correctly diagnosed a type III navicular fracture in a goalkeeper previously misdiagnosed with radiography.

Conservative treatment successfully managed knee hematoma, vastus lateralis tear, and adductor muscle tears in handball players.

Individualized protocols including physiotherapy and NSAIDs led to symptom relief and recovery in all four cases.

Abstract

Background: Musculoskeletal injuries are frequent in handball players due to the high-impact nature of the sport. Accurate diagnosis and tailored treatment are essential for recovery. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has become the gold standard for evaluating complex sports-related injuries. This case report aims to assess the role of MRI in diagnosing trauma in professional handball players and the effectiveness of individualized treatment approaches. Methods: Four male members of the “Politehnica” Timișoara first team who sustained match- or training-related injuries between January 2023 and December 2024 underwent an 1.5 T MRI. Individualized conservative protocols included rest, NSAIDs, physiotherapy, and graded kinesitherapy. Results: The first case involved a right back with a knee hematoma and a vastus lateralis tear. Conservative treatment led to recovery. The second case was a left back with peripheral neuropathy caused by hamstring avulsion at the ischial tuberosity. Conservative therapy alleviated symptoms. The third case involved a left winger with adductor muscle tears, which recovered with conservative management. The fourth case, a goalkeeper, had a type III navicular fracture misdiagnosed on radiography, correctly identified via MRI and treated conservatively. Conclusions: MRI is invaluable in diagnosing handball-related injuries, enabling accurate assessments and effective individualized treatment, resulting in early recovery.

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