Diagnostic performance of magnetic resonance arthrography of the shoulder in children.

BACKGROUND

No reported data demonstrate the usefulness of magnetic resonance arthrography of the shoulder in children.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of MR arthrography in the assessment of superior labral anteroposterior (SLAP) tears of the shoulder, Bankart-type injuries and Hill-Sachs lesions in children as compared to arthroscopy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively interpreted 66 MR arthrograms of the shoulder and compared them with surgical findings. Assessment included evaluation of the osseous structures, labral-ligamentous complex and determination of skeletal maturity. We calculated sensitivity, specificity and accuracy and compared sensitivity and specificity between skeletally mature and immature children.

RESULTS

MR arthrography demonstrated a sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of 88%, 98% and 94%, respectively, for depiction of SLAP tears; 94%, 92% and 94% for detection of Bankart-type injuries; and 100%, 94% and 97% for diagnosing Hill-Sachs lesions. There was no statistical difference between the skeletally immature and skeletally mature groups.

CONCLUSION

There is no significant difference in the diagnostic accuracy of MR arthrography in skeletally immature versus skeletally mature children. MR shoulder arthrography is an effective method for the detection of labral and bone pathology.