TY - JOUR
T1 - The Association between Coracoacromial Ligament Morphology and Rotator Cuff Tears
T2 - A Cadaveric Study
AU - Alraddadi, Abdulrahman
AU - Alashkham, Abduelmenem
AU - Lamb, Clare
AU - Soames, Roger
N1 - Funding Information:
Special thanks to the Centre for Anatomy and Human Identification (CAHID) for providing a professional environment to enable this study to be undertaken, and to those who donated their bodies for medical education and research. Abdulrahman Alraddadi received financial support from King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 American Association of Clinical Anatomists.
PY - 2022/5
Y1 - 2022/5
N2 - To determine the association between coracoacromial ligament (CAL) morphology and rotator cuff tears. The present study is a prospective cohort study based on the dissection of 172 shoulders from 86 (46 female, 40 male) formalin embalmed European Caucasian cadavers, with a median age of 82 years. The anatomy of CAL was examined, including its morphology and parametric measurements, while the rotator cuff tendons were inspected for the presence of tears. Gross examination of the CAL in 155 shoulders revealed a variable number of bands as follows: 28 (18%) had one band, 56 (36%) two bands and 71 (46%) three or more bands. Inspection of the rotator cuff tendons showed the presence of tears in 77 (50%) shoulders, of which 37 (24%) were partial and 40 (26%) were full-thickness tears. Statistical analysis showed a significant association (P < 0.05) between CAL band number and the prevalence of a rotator cuff tear. A high proportion of rotator cuff tears were observed in shoulders with two (52%) and three or more CAL bands (56%) compared to single band ligaments (29%). Parametric assessment of the CAL in shoulders with rotator cuff tears showed significantly greater (P < 0.05) attachment widths and ratios, thicker ligament bands, and larger cross-sectional areas compared to the control group. Coracoacromial ligaments with more than a single band have a strong association with rotator cuff tears.
AB - To determine the association between coracoacromial ligament (CAL) morphology and rotator cuff tears. The present study is a prospective cohort study based on the dissection of 172 shoulders from 86 (46 female, 40 male) formalin embalmed European Caucasian cadavers, with a median age of 82 years. The anatomy of CAL was examined, including its morphology and parametric measurements, while the rotator cuff tendons were inspected for the presence of tears. Gross examination of the CAL in 155 shoulders revealed a variable number of bands as follows: 28 (18%) had one band, 56 (36%) two bands and 71 (46%) three or more bands. Inspection of the rotator cuff tendons showed the presence of tears in 77 (50%) shoulders, of which 37 (24%) were partial and 40 (26%) were full-thickness tears. Statistical analysis showed a significant association (P < 0.05) between CAL band number and the prevalence of a rotator cuff tear. A high proportion of rotator cuff tears were observed in shoulders with two (52%) and three or more CAL bands (56%) compared to single band ligaments (29%). Parametric assessment of the CAL in shoulders with rotator cuff tears showed significantly greater (P < 0.05) attachment widths and ratios, thicker ligament bands, and larger cross-sectional areas compared to the control group. Coracoacromial ligaments with more than a single band have a strong association with rotator cuff tears.
KW - acromioclavicular joint
KW - coracoacromial arch
KW - coracoacromial ligament
KW - rotator cuff tears
KW - shoulder impingement syndrome
KW - shoulder joint
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85120826932&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/ca.23814
DO - 10.1002/ca.23814
M3 - Article
C2 - 34851534
SN - 0897-3806
VL - 35
SP - 461
EP - 468
JO - Clinical Anatomy
JF - Clinical Anatomy
IS - 4
ER -