Kim lesion (shoulder)

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Kim lesions are superficial tears between the posterior glenoid labrum and glenoid articular cartilage without labral detachment. Failure to identify and treat this lesion may lead to permanent posterior instability.

Pathology

It typically results from a posteroinferiorly directed force on the labrum with a deep and/or intrasubstance incomplete detachment of the posteroinferior labrum from the glenoid accompanied by a separate superficial tear between the posteroinferior labrum and articular cartilage.

Radiographic features

MRI
  • flattening or incomplete avulsion of the posterior labrum
  • normal relation of glenoid cartilage and posterior labrum
  • glenoid retroversion
MR arthrography

May shows a thin collection of contrast material entering a cleft between the posteroinferior glenoid and the glenoid labrum. There is no displacement of the labrum.

History and etymology

It is named after South Korean orthopedic surgeon Seung-Ho Kim who first described the condition in the literature in 2004 .