title: Direct MR arthrography of the shoulder under axial traction: feasibility study to evaluate the superior labrum-biceps tendon complex and articular cartilage.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the value of adding axial traction to direct MR arthrography of the shoulder, in terms of subacromial and glenohumeral joint space widths, and coverage of the superior labrum-biceps tendon complex and articular cartilage by contrast material.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-one patients investigated by direct MR arthrography of the shoulder were prospectively included. Studies were performed with a 3 Tesla (T) unit and included a three-dimensional isotropic fat-suppressed T1-weighted gradient-recalled echo sequence, without and with axial traction (4 kg). Two radiologists independently measured the width of the subacromial, superior, and inferior glenohumeral joint spaces. They subsequently rated the amount of contrast material around the superior labrum-biceps tendon complex and between glenohumeral cartilage surfaces, using a three-point scale: 0 = no, 1 = partial, 2 = full.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Under traction, the subacromial (Δ = 2.0 mm, P = 0.0003), superior (Δ = 0.7 mm, P = 0.0001) and inferior (Δ = 1.4 mm, P = 0.0006) glenohumeral joint space widths were all significantly increased, and both readers noted significantly more contrast material around the superior labrum-biceps tendon complex (P = 0.014), and between the superior (P = 0.001) and inferior (P = 0.025) glenohumeral cartilage surfaces.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Direct MR arthrography of the shoulder under axial traction increases subacromial and glenohumeral joint space widths, and prompts better coverage of the superior labrum-biceps tendon complex and articular cartilage by contrast material.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, University of Lausanne, Rue du Bugnon 46, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland. fabio.becce@chuv.ch
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Becce
authors.forename: Delphine
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Richarme
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Omoumi
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Djahangiri
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Farron
authors.forename: Reto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Meuli
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Theumann
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000473:pathology*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000473:pathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000473:pathology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000473:pathology*; D013710:Tendons; D014143:Traction; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult