Imaging Modalities for the Glenoid Track in Recurrent Shoulder Instability: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Background: The glenoid track (GT) concept illustrates how the degree of glenoid bone loss and humeral bone loss in the glenohumeral joint can guide further treatment in a patient with anterior instability. The importance of determining which lesions are at risk for recurrent instability involves imaging of the glenohumeral joint, but no studies have determined which type of imaging is the most appropriate.

Purpose/Hypothesis: The purpose of this study was to determine the validity and accuracy of different imaging modalities for measuring the GT in shoulders with recurrent anterior instability. We hypothesized that 3-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT) would be the most accurate imaging technique.

Study Design: Systematic review; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods: A systematic review was performed according to the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines using PubMed, Scopus, Medline, and Cochrane libraries between database inception and July 2019. We included all clinical trials or cadaveric studies that evaluated imaging modalities for assessing the GT.

Results: A total of 13 studies were included in this review: 1 study using 2-dimensional CT, 6 studies using 3D-CT, 4 studies using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), 1 study using magnetic resonance arthrography (MRA)/MRI, and 1 study combining CT and MRI. The mean sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for 2D-CT was 92%, 100%, and 96%, respectively. For MRI, the means were 72.2%, 87.9%, and 84.2%, respectively. No papers included 3D-CT metrics. The mean intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) for intraobserver reliability were 0.9046 for 3D-CT and 0.867 for MRI. ICCs for interobserver reliability were 0.8164, 0.8845, and 0.43 for 3D-CT, MRI, and MRA/MRI, respectively.

Conclusion: There is evidence to support the use of both CT and MRI imaging modalities in assessing the GT. In addition, few studies have compared radiographic measurements with a gold standard, and even fewer have looked at the GT concept as a predictor of outcomes. Thus, future studies are needed to further evaluate which imaging modality is the most accurate to assess the GT.