title: Age related biomechanical properties of the glenoid-anterior band of the inferior glenohumeral ligament-humerus complex.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To quantify the biomechanical properties of the glenoid-anterior band of the inferior glenohumeral ligament-humerus complex for the two age groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  In vitro human cadaver study evaluating the biomechanical properties of the glenoid-anterior band of the inferior glenohumeral ligament-humerus complex for a younger group (n=5, mean age 38.5, SD 0.5 years) and an older group (n=7, mean age 74.8, SD 5.3 years).
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Glenohumeral instability is more of a problem in younger than in older individuals, primarily because recurrence is much more common at a young age.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tensile testing was performed on the glenoid-anterior band of the inferior glenohumeral ligament-humerus complex in the shoulder apprehension position using a custom jig, Instron machine and a video digitizing system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the younger individuals disruption of the complex most often occurred at the glenoid-labrum region of the glenoid insertion site. In the older individual, disruption most often occurred at the midsubstance region. The load and the stress at failure of the glenoid-anterior band of the inferior glenohumeral ligament-humerus complex showed that the older group was only 61% and 46% of the younger group, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The structural properties of the glenoid-anterior band of the inferior glenohumeral ligament-humerus complex and the material characteristics of the anterior band of the inferior glenohumeral ligament for the younger group were significantly superior than the older group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A stronger and more extensive repair, such as the traditional open technique, may be necessary for younger individuals with glenohumeral instability whereas in older individuals, a different repair technique, such as an arthroscopic technique, may be sufficient.
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedic Biomechanics Laboratory, Veterans Affairs Medical Center (151), 5901 East 7th St., Long Beach, CA 90822, USA. tqlee@med.va.gov
authors.forename: T Q
authors.initials: TQ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dettling
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Sandusky
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: McMahon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002102:Cadaver; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008023:Ligaments, Articular / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*