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Purpose. To compare magnetic resonance (MR) arthrography and arthroscopy as a means of assessing the severity of labral tear in anterior glenohumeral instability. Methods. 52 patients presenting with traumatic recurrent anterior shoulder instability were evaluated using MR arthrography; 30 shoulders with a labroligamentous lesion were treated with arthroscopic Bankart repair. Their MR arthrographic images were interpreted by 3 senior musculoskeletal radiologists, and a radiological diagnosis was reached by consensus. The sensitivity and positive predictive values of MR arthrography for detecting a labral tear were determined. Agreement between MR arthrography and arthroscopy in terms of the width and depth of the labral tear was analysed. Results. On arthroscopy, a labroligamentous lesion (Bankart lesion and its variants) was present in all the 30 shoulders. Agreement between the MR arthrography and arthroscopy in terms of the width and depth of the labral tears was good. Conclusion. MR arthrography is an accurate means of assessing the severity of anterior labroligamentous lesions and yields a good correlation with arthroscopy.