The effect of coracoacromial ligament excision and acromioplasty on superior and anterosuperior glenohumeral stability.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effect of coracoacromial ligament (CAL) resection and subacromial decompression (SAD)/acromioplasty on humeral head translation under anterosuperior and superior loading in a cadaveric model with an intact rotator cuff.


METHODS
Six cadaveric shoulders were tested in the intact state, following CAL resection and following SAD.


RESULTS
Excision of the CAL led to a significant increase in anterosuperior humeral translation of 2.1 mm (17%). SAD led to a significant increase in superior humeral translation of 2.5 mm (28%).


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this cadaveric study showed that resection of the CAL led to a 2.1-mm increase in anterosuperior translation and that SAD led to a 2.5-mm increase in superior translation.


CONCLUSIONS
CAL resection and SAD are common surgical procedures, which may lead to increases in anterosuperior and superior glenohumeral instability.
Su
Wei-Ren
WR
National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan.
Budoff
Jeffrey E
JE
Luo
Zong-Ping
ZP
D000174:Acromion / Q000601:surgery*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002102:Cadaver; D006801:Humans; D008023:Ligaments, Articular / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012783:Shoulder Dislocation / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013536:Suture Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation