Bennett lesions in baseball players detected by magnetic resonance imaging: assessment of association factors

Abstract

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of Bennett lesions in baseball players compared with those without a Bennett lesion and to identify other possible factors associated with Bennett lesions on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Methods: We investigated 388 male baseball players with a career >1 year. Demographic factors and a routine physical examination, including glenohumeral internal rotation difference, scapular dyskinesis, and various pathologic changes, were reviewed on MRI to identify relative factors for Bennett lesions.

Results: Of the 388 patients evaluated, 125 (32.2%) were diagnosed with Bennett lesions of the shoulder. No significant differences were observed between the groups in demographic factors, physical examination results, visual analog scale score, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score, or prevalence of concomitant diseases. However, players with Bennett lesions had played baseball longer than those without the lesions (P < .001).

Conclusion: An association was found between Bennett lesions and the length of time that a patient with a Bennett lesion had played baseball. The prevalence of pathologic lesions detected on MRI and the physical examination results were not different between players with and without Bennett lesions.

Keywords: Bennett lesion; baseball; glenoid exostosis; pitcher; posterior shoulder pain; throwing.