Acromion and glenoid shape: Why are they important predictive factors for the future of our shoulders?

[摘要] The acromion partially covers the humeral head, articulates with the clavicle and gives attachment to the anterolateral portion of the deltoid muscle and the coraco-acromial ligament. It has been associated with chronic pain and dysfunction of the shoulder for a long time. In 1934, Codman1 reported that hypertrophic changes at the acromial edge could frequently be observed on the radiographs of patients with long-standing subacromial bursitis associated with complete tear of the rotator cuff. In 1949, Armstrong2 noted that in the middle range of abduction movement the supraspinatus tendon impinges on the overlying processes and that the tendon and the bursa are compressed between the humerus and the acromion. He stated that this pressure causes pain, when there is abnormality of the tendon or bursa. In 1972, Neer3 emphasised that impingement of the cuff occurs against the anterior part of the acromion and the coraco-acromial ligament. Some years later, Watson4 suggested that refractory cases of the painful arc syndrome could be due to impingement of the rotator cuff against a bulging coraco-acromial ligament, forced down by the swollen overlying degenerated acromioclavicular joint.

[学科分类] 神经科学

[关键词] shoulder;acromion;glenoid;subacromial impingement;supraspinatus tendon;rotator cuff tear;osteoarthritis;tendon fibrils;gliding mechanism.