Sports-related injuries of the shoulder: instability

Without a well conceived radiologic approach, instability lesions in the athlete may present imaging problems. A proper radiologic work-up may include plain radiographs, conventional MR imaging, MR arthrography and, particularly in the postoperative patient with persistent symptoms, CT arthrography. An appreciation of the benefits and limitations of each type of exam, and their application in the acute or chronic setting, will expedite the patient work-tip, and will demonstrate instability lesions optimally. This article addresses these issues.