Editorial Commentary: Patients May Have Posterior Glenoid Labral Tears in the Absence of Instability or Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings.

Abstract

Posterior labral tears occur more often than imagined 25 years ago. Although such tears are generally identified in patients with posterior shoulder instability, the spectrum of labral tears in patients without instability creates a challenging diagnosis. Both physical examination and magnetic resonance imaging interpretation are difficult. Pathology encompassing posterior labral tears without instability notably reveals differences compared with throwers with posterior labral tears and patients with posterior instability. Recent research has identified 3 tear types: occult (type 1), incomplete (type 2), and complete (type 3). Attention to diagnosis deserves critical attention, in addition to tailoring of repair techniques to address the appropriate conditions in the shoulder. Even in patients without posterior instability and with ambiguous magnetic resonance imaging or magnetic resonance arthrography findings, posterior shoulder pain during daily activities or sports may indicate a posterior labral tear. Arthroscopic posterior labral repair without capsular plication provides good clinical outcomes and high rates of return to sport and labral healing.