Iliopsoas haematoma in a rugby player

Abstract

Traumatic iliopsoas haematoma is a serious complication of haemorrhage disorders rarely seen in young healthy athletes. It is mostly describedin patients on anticoagulant therapy and commonly associated with various degrees of femoral nerve palsy. A 22-year-old male rugby playerpresented with severe onset of pain in the lower back, right hip flexor/pelvic area following a tackle during a rugby match. Magnetic resonanceimaging identified a distinct, hyperechoic heterogeneous mass within the right iliopsoas muscle, confirming a diagnosis of iliopsoas haematoma.The case resolved completely after conservative medical treatment in addition to a period of rest and intense active physical therapy. This casestudy reports the rare diagnosis of an uncomplicated iliopsoas haematoma following a sports injury in a young athlete.