Glenoid labral tear

Glenoid labral tear. When a patient has shoulder instability or recurrent dislocation, we may be asked to evaluate the labrum for a tear. This structure is difficult to assess on a regular MRI, therefore we routinely perform an ‘MR arthrogram’ which involves injecting some dilute gadolinium into the joint immediately prior to the MRI. This contrast makes it much easier to detect labral tears. In the example shown here, in a patient with previous anterior dislocation, the anterior labrum (low signal structure indicated by the arrow) has been displaced away from the glenoid. This is called a Bankart injury.