M R Arthrography in Evaluating Labral Tears of the Shoulder in the Throwing Athletes.

Abstract

(Purpose) The purpose of this study was to evaluate the value of MR Arthrography (MRA) in detecting labral tears of the shoulder.
(Materials and Methods) MRAs were performed on 20 shoulders with labral tears before arthroscopic surgery. There were 19 males and one female. Their ages ranged from 16 to 28 years. All the males were baseball players, and the female was a volleyball player. None of the patients recalled any episode of a major trauma. MRIs (T2 weighted, axial and oblique coronal sequence) were performed immediately after arthrography. We evaluated the labral tears of our MRA findings, and compared them with the arthroscopic findings.
(Results) Arthroscopically, labral tears were observed in 36 sites of 20 shoulders. In 26 of them (72%), labral tears were detected with MRA. There was a variety of sites of tears. Twenty cases revealed a posterior tear,14: a superior, and 2: an anterior. Positive MRA findings were shown in 16 of 20(80%)posterior tears,8 Of 14 (57%) superior tears, and 2 of 2(100%)anterior tears. A false positive was only found in 2 sites of the superior labrum. There was no significant difference between the diagnostic rate of labral tears with a detachment and those without. (Conclusion)MRI is a valuable imaging tool to detect, not only anterior tears but also posterior and superior labral tears.