Rotator cuff interval reconstruction

Abstract

Five pairs of cadaveric shoulders underwent posterior and anterior drawer and inferior sulcus tests in five progressive conditions: intact, vented, following opening of the rotator cuff interval, reconstruction of the interval, and transfer of the coracoacromial ligament. The surgical treatments-vented, open rotator cuff interval, reconstruction, and coracoacromial ligament transfer-had an effect compared to the intact shoulders on the inferior stiffness (P=.00002) and on the anteroposterior stiffness (P=.00031). The difference between the stiffness of the reconstructed rotator cuff interval compared to the coracoacromial ligament transfer was significant for loading in the AP direction (P=.006) and for loading in the inferior direction (P=.005).