1998 Volume 22 Issue 2 Pages 271-273
Introduction: In recurrent anterior dislocation of the shoulder, the enlarged capsule is often noticed on arthrography or during surgery. The purpose of this study was to quantify the elongation of the capsule in recurrent anterior dislocation of the shoulder using MR arthrography.
Materials and Methods: There were 16 shoulders with recurrent anterior dislocation (instability group, average age 23 years) and 7 shouders of normal volunteers (control group, average age 20 years). MR images were obtained after 10ml of gadolinium/saline solution (1: 100) was injected into the glenohumeral joint under fluoroscopic guidacce. The slice at the level lcm superior to the inferior margin of the glenoid in axial plane was scanned into a computer, and the length of the anterior and posterior capsule was measured using NIH Image software. The length was normalized to the humeral head diameter.
Results: The anterior capsule was significantly longer in the instability group (43.7±7.9 mm) than in the control group. (37.0±4.3 mm; p=0.045). The posterior capsular length did not show any significant difference between the groups. Conclusion: The anterior capsule was elongated in recurrent anterior dislocation of the shoulder.
