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Kim lesion

Case contributed by Domenico Nicoletti
Diagnosis almost certain

Presentation

Posterior shoulder instability.

Patient Data

Age: 35 years
Gender: Male
mri

MR arthrography of the shoulder

In the 6-9 o'clock position, there is a tear between the posterior glenoid labrum and glenoid articular cartilage without labral dislocation.

No Hill-Sachs injury can be detected.

The rotator cuff tendons are normal.

Case Discussion

Tears of the labrum can develop after acute trauma or repetitive microtrauma. In the cumulative microtrauma model, a Kim lesion may develop. This is thought to occur with cumulative rim loading secondary to persistent shoulder subluxation or microtrauma. This pathologic process leads to a loss of chondrolabral containment, with subsequent development of posterior labral marginal cracks and undermining of the labrum or partial avulsions of the glenoid labrum.

Case courtesy: Dr Eleonora Renzi

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