Tracking healing of pars interarticularis injuries with MRI
Official title: Pars Healing on oZTEo MRI
Run by University of Missouri-Columbia · NCT07215845 · Data updated 2026-11-12
For teens and young adults with pars interarticularis stress injuries, this project will use repeat MRI scans over 12 months to see if the fractures heal with rest and rehabilitation.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 12 Years to 30 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 40 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University of Missouri-Columbia Academic / other |
| Drugs / interventions | radiation |
| Locations | 1 site (Columbia, Missouri) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | December 12, 2025 |
| Main results expected | December 31, 2027 |
| Study ends | December 31, 2028 |
| Registry record updated | July 22, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07215845 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are 12–30-year-olds with back pain and imaging-confirmed pars interarticularis stress injury or defect who can safely undergo MRI.
✕Probably not a fit
Those with prior lumbar surgery, MRI contraindications (such as pacemakers or certain metal implants), pregnancy, claustrophobia, or poor-quality initial scans are excluded and unlikely to benefit.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This project follows adolescents and young adults with pars interarticularis stress injuries using serial MRI scans and brief questionnaires over a 12-month period. Participants will undergo repeat MRI exams to document bony bridging across stress fractures without exposing them to ionizing radiation. Imaging findings will be correlated with symptoms and rehabilitation progress to inform clinical timing for return to play. The protocol excludes patients with MRI contraindications or prior lumbar surgery.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, MRI evidence of bony bridging could give clinicians a safer, radiation-free way to time return to play and personalize care for young athletes.
How similar studies have gone: Clinical experience suggests many pars injuries heal with rest and rehab, but systematic, serial MRI tracking of bony bridging is relatively novel and not yet widely validated.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * 12-30 years old * Symptoms of back pain at the time of enrollment * Clinical imaging demonstrating pars stress interarticularis injury or pars interarticularis defect Exclusion Criteria: * Prior lumbar surgery * Any condition for which an MRI procedure is contraindicated (e.g., metallic material in the body such as pacemakers, metallic clips, etc.) * Pregnancy * Likelihood of claustrophobia * Any patient-related factors that compromised quality on the initial diagnostic scan (patient motion, ascites fluid, difficulty with positioning during the scan)
Where it's running
-
University of Missouri - Columbia
Columbia, Missouri, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Lauren Pringle, MD — University of Missouri-Columbia
- Study coordinator: Hailey N Schlaffer
- Email: hs2c8@umsystem.edu
- Phone: 573-882-0515
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.