MRI has been widely used in the evaluation of shoulder diseases in many athletic patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of MRI in treatment of shoulder diseases in athletes.

Fifty-seven athletes were evaluated for shoulder diseases from March 1995 through July 1997. MRI was performed in thirty cases (53%). We analyzed the findings of MRI and checked if operation was determined by MRI findings.

MRI findings revealed rotator cuff tear in 6 cases (20.0%), including one full thickness tear and five partial thickness tear. Among 57 cases, four cases (7.0%) were operated. Only in one case (3.3%) was open acromioplasty and rotator cuff repair in accordance with the finding of full thickness tear of rotator cuff on MRI decided upon. One case, which was initially treated conservatively, was treated by arthroscopic acromioplasty later. The two other cases were treated with arthroscopic acromioplasty and Bankart repair with capsular shift without MRI.

MRI is not so useful for determining surgery in initial examination of shoulder diseases of athletes. MRI should be better reserved for cases with rotator cuff disease developed after trauma, cases without improvement by conservative measures or the unusual cases with difficulty in clinical diagnosis.