gms | German Medical Science

Objective: The study of changes in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain in boxers who had a history of mild traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Material/Methods: 75 boxers high skill level from age 18 to 32 years, during which a sports career suffered repeated mild TBI conducted MRI brain. MRI brain was conducted on the «Magnetom Concerto» (Siemens, Germany). Boxers were divided into two groups (first – 44 athletes - candidate master of sports and master of sports, second - 31 athletes - master of sports of international class and honored master of sports). The number of boxing matches was from 45 to 260, the total number of TBI in the form of knockdown and knockout depending on the length of sports career ranged from 1 to 10. The control group comprised 30 people aged 18 to 30 years who had no history of TBI.

Results: According to MRI in boxers observed the following changes: expansion of cavum septum pellucidum, lateral ventricles, convexital spaces, cysts pineal gland, focus of gliosis traumatic genesis. MRI picture was normal in 56.8% athletes first group, 58,1% – second group and 86.8% – control group. There was no significant difference in the number of changes in MRI brain between athletes of different groups. However, if the boxers higher qualification (second group) often proved to be expanded cavum septum pellucidum, the boxers in the first group often identified expansion convexital spaces and lateral ventricles. Changes in MRI of the brain in boxers are manifestations of repeated mild TBI.

Conclusion: Comparison of MRI brain data with clinical data in boxers who had a history of repeated mild TBI will enable to choose the right therapy and recommends relevant sport mode to prevent the possible consequences of injury.