Magnetic Resonance Arthrographic Demonstration of Association of Superior Labrum Anterior and Posterior Lesions With Extended Anterior Labral Tears.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to evaluate retrospectively the full extent of anterior labral tear and associated other labral tears on magnetic resonance arthrographic images in patients with anterior shoulder instability.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

One hundred ten magnetic resonance arthrography images with anterior labral tear were retrieved from the database of the Radiology Department. Two skeletal radiologists, one with 15 years of experience and the other with 5 years of experience analyzed the images in random order. Approval for the study was granted by the Ethics Committee. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS software.

RESULTS

The most common localization of the labral lesions was at the anterior-inferior part of the glenoid labrum (22.7%). The anterior labral tears were commonly associate with superior labrum anterior and posterior (SLAP) lesions (45%). The most common type of SLAP lesion was type V (23.6%). Superior Labrum Anterior and Posterior type V lesion was more often detected in patients with Bankart lesion (27.7%, P = 0.043).

CONCLUSIONS

Isolated anterior labral tears are less than expected. In majority of the cases, a distinct tear at a different site of the labrum accompanies the anterior labral tear. Massive anterior labral tears are mostly seen together with SLAP lesions.