Background: Generally, MRI has been used for the evaluation of glenohumeral labrum. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the morphology of glenohumeral labrum and the injured regions of labrum by radial-sequence MRI.
Methods: 11 cases who had no injury of labrum who had arthroscopic surgery for rotator cuff tear and 17 cases who had anterior shoulder instability and underwent surgery with arthroscopic Bankart method were include in this study. In each case, the regions identified labrum shape was examined by radial and axial, coronal sections in MRI (fat suppression T2 weighted images). In cases that involved labrum injury, the injured regions identified by MRI were compared with arthroscopic findings.
Results: The regions identified labrum shapes were in almost all directions except 0:00-2:00 by radial-sequence imaging. The labrum shapes can be identified in wider regions by radial-sequence imaging than axial or coronal imaging. The regions of injured labrum in arthroscopy can be evaluated correctly in the 2:30-5:00 range by radial-sequence imaging.
Conclusion: The radial-sequence MRI methods was considered to be one of the useful methods for the evaluation of the shape of labrum and the region of labrum injury.