Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, Egarsat, Terrassa, Spain

Purpose: Isolated SLAP lesion is quite uncommon. Clinical diagnosis is often difficult and complementary tests needs to be used: The more common one is RMI, but it is less specific than Magnetic Resonance Imaging Arthrogram (MRI-A). This investigation studied the correlation between IRM, MRIA and arthroscopic findings, in order to demostrate MRI-A to be the best tool.

Material and Methods: From 2006 to 2008, 23 isolated SLAP lesions by MRI-A were diagnosed, with confirmation of lesion in 22 cases by the arthroscopy procedure. In one case the arthroscopic finding revealed a sublabral hole. The IRM only diagnosed five of the 23 cases. The distribution of the lesions were indicated according to the Snyder classification, and ten cases than SLAP lesions were associated with other anatomical variations, such as Buford complex, sublabral hole, or others.

Results: In the majority of the cases, the MRI-A provides the correct diagnose of a SLAP lesion, different to IRM, also confirmed arthroscopically. No problems were found during the MRI-A Procedure.

Conclusion: MRI-A showed the best results in confirming isolated SLAP lesions. Whilst the costs associated with this test is elevated, the clinical results proved to be worthwhile, in order to archive a safe and quickly diagnose confirming clinic suspicion.