To evaluate arthroscopic findings of intraarticular lesions in patients with initial dislocation of the shoulder associated with a fracture of greater tuberosity and differences in lesions according to age.

The subjects were 13 patients who had received an arthroscopic evaluation from February 1997 to August 1998. Using 40 years of age after which rotator cuff tear frequently occurs at the time of traumatic dislocation as a base, we classified these cases into two groups: Group A (6 cases) under 40 years of age and group B (7 cases) over 40 years of age. As for arthroscopic findings, we investigated 8 items, including SLAP lesion, anterior labral tear above the mid-glenoid notch, capsular tear, Bankart lesion, Hill-Sachs lesion, glenoid cartilage fracture, rotator interval and cuff tear.

Bankart lesion was observed in 50% of group A, but group B showed no Bankart lesion, but capsular tear without labral lesion was present in 71%, and rotator interval and cuff tear were observed in 29%.

Many pathological findings were found with arthroscopy, and important pathological differences were observed between the two groups.