With the evolution of medical diagnostic tools comes the discovery of several conditions that no one thought existed. Among these conditions is a labral tear, which is an injury to the labrum, a very small structure in the shoulder. A labral tear can be extremely painful to a sufferer.
Labral tears—a closer look
The labrum is made of soft tissue that forms the cup in the shoulder socket. Similar to the meniscus in the knee, the labrum is what turns the flat surface of the part of the glenoid—a part of the scapula—into a deeper socket that forms a mold to hold the humerus, which is the upper bone of the arm. The labrum also provides a kind of suction to the humerus, which is critical to the arm bone’s stability.
Because of its stabilizing function, a torn labrum can render the entire shoulder uneven or unbalanced, which is similar to what happens in a shoulder dislocation. The problem with a labral tear is that it can be difficult to diagnose, not to mention locate. Fortunately, detecting unstable labral tears can be done through MRI.
MRI as a detection tool for labral tears
According to a published study by the American Journal of Roentgenology, MRI—or more particularly, unenhanced MRI and MR arthrography.—can be used to detect labral tears in the shoulder, which can help in the treatment planning of patients who suffer from the condition. The research looked at the scans of 150 patients, and all lesions described on MRI were described on arthroscopy. The study notes that all tears that the unenhanced MRI and MR arthrography failed to detect were stable.
As MRI develops, hopefully it will be able to detect stable tears as well. Nevertheless, the technology ability to detect unstable labral tears is of immense help to medical professionals everywhere.
Sources:
MRI and MR Arthroscopy Useful for Unstable Labral Tears, diagnosticimaging.com
Labral Tears, shoulderdoc.co.uk
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