title: Inferior glenohumeral ligament (IGHL) complex: anatomy, injuries, imaging features, and treatment options.
abstract: The inferior glenohumeral ligament (IGHL) complex is comprised of three components supporting the inferior aspect of the shoulder. It consists of an anterior band, a posterior band, and an interposed axillary pouch. Injuries to the IGHL complex have a unifying clinical history of traumatic shoulder injury, which are often sports or fall-related, with the biomechanical mechanism, positioning of the arm, and individual patient factors determining the specific component of the ligamentous complex that is injured, the location of the injury of those components, and the degree of bone involvement. Several acronyms are employed to characterize these features, specifying whether there is involvement of a portion of the anterior band, posterior band, or midsubstance, and if there is avulsion from the humeral attachment, glenoid attachment, or both. Imaging recommendations for the evaluation of the IGHL complex include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and injuries to this complex are best visualized with magnetic resonance arthrography. Additionally, a brief description of clinical management of inferior glenohumeral ligament injuries is included.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 1500 San Pablo Street, 2nd Floor Imaging, Los Angeles, CA, 90033-5313, USA.
authors.forename: Giovanni J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Passanante
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Southern California University of Health Sciences, Whittier, CA, 90604, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Skalski
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 1500 San Pablo Street, 2nd Floor Imaging, Los Angeles, CA, 90033-5313, USA.
authors.forename: Dakshesh B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 1500 San Pablo Street, 2nd Floor Imaging, Los Angeles, CA, 90033-5313, USA.
authors.forename: Eric A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: White
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 1500 San Pablo Street, 2nd Floor Imaging, Los Angeles, CA, 90033-5313, USA.
authors.forename: Aaron J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Schein
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Langone Medical Center, New York University, New York, NY, 10016, USA.
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Gottsegen
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 1500 San Pablo Street, 2nd Floor Imaging, Los Angeles, CA, 90033-5313, USA. matcuk@usc.edu.
authors.forename: George R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Matcuk
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D006801:Humans; D008023:Ligaments, Articular / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000293:injuries; D000070599:Shoulder Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*
keywords: Anterior band; Axillary pouch; Glenohumeral joint; Inferior glenohumeral ligament (IGHL) complex; Posterior band