Essentials of shoulder MR arthrography: a practical guide for the general radiologist

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Radiology
• Sports Medicine

Background:

• Shoulder trauma frequently results in glenoid labrum and ligamentous injuries.
• These injuries are a primary cause of shoulder joint instability.
• A complex system of eponyms and subclassifications complicates the description of shoulder abnormalities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To illustrate the key features of glenoid labrum and ligamentous lesions.
• To present a systematic and practical imaging approach for shoulder abnormalities.
• To clarify the diagnosis of shoulder joint instability using MR arthrography.

Main Methods:

• Review of relevant literature on shoulder labral and ligamentous injuries.
• Illustration of characteristic imaging features on MR arthrography.
• Development of a systematic approach to shoulder MR arthrography interpretation.

Main Results:

• Detailed description of common glenoid labrum and ligamentous lesions.
• Visual examples of bony and labro-ligamentous abnormalities.
• A structured protocol for MR arthrography of the shoulder.

Conclusions:

• MR arthrography is crucial for diagnosing shoulder instability caused by labral and ligamentous lesions.
• A systematic approach enhances the accurate identification of complex shoulder abnormalities.
• Understanding these lesions improves patient management following shoulder trauma.