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MRI ARTHROGRAPHY IN RECURRENT SHOULDER INSTABILITY.



Abstract

Purpose of this study is to examine the role of MRI arthrography in chronic cases of shoulder instability. Shoulder arthroscopy was elected as standard record of diagnosis.

Patients & Method: We evaluated 155 shoulder arthroscopies in 153 cases of recurrent shoulder instability from Sept 99 to Feb 03. Each patient suffered at least 2 true dislocations. Pre-op, we performed MRI scan in 82 of them while, 15 other cases were evaluated more invasively with MRI arthrography, with anterior portal infusion technique. Results were analyzed blindly from 2 radiologists with particular experience in MRI musculoskeletal cases and were compared to arthroscopic findings.

Results: Bankart lesion was diagnosed in all cases with MRI arthrography (sensitivity 100%), SLAP lesion had sensitivity 50% and specificity 100% while, rotator cuff pathology was diagnosed in 6 out of 7 cases. There were also 4 false positive cases in rotator cuff pathology. Sensitivity for superior and inferior gleno-humeral ligament was 100% and 94% respectively, without any true negative findings in both of them. Sensitivity and specificity for middle glenohumeral ligament was 89% and 60% respectively. In cases where we recognized loose anterior capsule pathology during arthroscopy, the radiologists were not able to detect these lesions from a functional aspect. Despite the fact, that all Hill Sachs lesions were identified through MRI arthrography it was also possible to be detected functionally.

Conclusions; MRI arthrography is a reliable tool in recurrent shoulder instability while is an invasive method because of the infusion material. Anterior glenohumeral instability is not always a Bankart lesion but gleno-humeral ligaments pathology too that, can easily be detected during arthroscopy which may be the therapeutic solution at the same time.

The abstracts were prepared by Eleni Koutsoukou. Correspondence should be addressed to him at the Hellenic Association of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology (HAOST), 20, A. Fleming str, 15123 Marousi, Athens, Greece.