Distance between rotator cuff footprints and the acromion, coracoacromial ligament, and coracoid process during dynamic arm elevations: Preliminary observations

BackgroundThe objective of this study was to provide preliminary measures of the distance between the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, and subscapularis footprints and the acromion, coracoacromial ligament, and coracoid process, during dynamic arm elevations through the entire range-of-motion.MethodsTwo healthy men performed maximum adduction, flexion, abduction, and extension with the arm internally, neutrally, and externally rotated. The distance between each rotator cuff footprint and the acromion, coracoacromial ligament, and coracoid process was measured from glenohumeral kinematics obtained from markers fitted to intracortical pins combined with the scapular and humeral 3D geometry obtained from CT-scan.ResultsAll footprints moved to be less than 10 mm to the acromion, coracoacromial ligament and coracoid process. They got closer to the acromion than to the other parts of the coracoacromial arch. The acromion-supraspinatus and acromion-infraspinatus distances were minimal during abduction and flexion. The acromion-subscapularis distance was minimal when the arm was in external and neutral rotation during both adduction and flexion.ConclusionsThe present study provides benchmark results of the distance between the rotator cuff footprints and the coracoacromial arch that may guide future clinical research. Pressure transducers should be positioned throughout the coracoacromial arch to provide comprehensive assessment of the compression undergone by the rotator cuff tendons. Common shoulder examination tests, that require flexion and internal rotation movements, may be refined since the supraspinatus footprint was the closest to the coracoacromial arch during abduction. Larger scale investigations may be needed to identify more accurate shoulder examination tests.