SHORT-TERM MRI EVALUATION OF CAPSULOLABRAL REPAIR IN ATHLETES WITH ANTERIOR GLENOHUMERAL INSTABILITY: CORRELATION WITH CLINICAL OUTCOMES.

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate capsulolabral repair in athletes with traumatic anterior glenohumeral instability using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and correlate it with clinical and epidemiological data.

Method: A prospective therapeutic clinical study was conducted with 36 athletes undergoing surgical treatment. MRI was performed preoperatively and in the third month postoperatively. The morphology, height, angulation, integrity and density of the repaired capsulolabral tissue were evaluated. Linear and logistic regression models were applied.

Results: A total of 36 athletes were evaluated (mean age 29.64 ± 9.08 years). For all numerical variables (morphology, integrity, angles and heights) the differences were statistically significant, except for the coronal angle and homogeneity. Longer time to surgery or multiple dislocations reduced the improvement in morphology. There were no new episodes of dislocation. In the 3-month radiological evaluation, the integrity of the labrum was present in 97% of the patients, however, all patients still had a heterogeneous labrum.

Conclusion: There are statistically significant differences between the morphology, height and angulation of the labrum between the pre- and postoperative periods of patients operated on for glenohumeral instability. Although the 3-month MRI showed integrity of the labrum in almost all athletes, this tissue still presented altered density even with satisfactory clinical results. Level of Evidence III; Prospective Study.