Revisiting the anatomy of rotator cuff relevant to rotator cuff injury

Abstract

The rotator cuff is the prime stabilizer of the glenohumeral or shoulder joint. The last decade saw introduction of three components, namely, rotator cable, rotator crescent, and rotator interval of rotator cuff, which were being studied and published in dozen of literatures belonging to clinical specialties of orthopaedics and radiology. At times when these terms have helped the clinician to understand the biomechanics of the rotator cuff while improving the outcome of its repair, the knowledge of the same remains at large for the anatomists. The preoperative assessment of rotator cuff tear has helped surgeons to identify the structure and its functional deficits thereof. The rotator cable is a thick fibrous band that behaves like a suspension bridge. Tears of rotator cable result in partial loss of function or pseudoparalysis of shoulder joint. The rotator interval is a four-layered protective cover of ligaments and the capsule in the rotator cuff. The current knowledge of the rotator interval revealed that the minor underlying ligaments of the shoulder joint play a crucial role in maintaining the congruency of the rotator cuff. The rotator cuff injury is often misdiagnosed due to a lack of knowledge and identification of its recently reported components. This review intends to sensitize the anatomists to investigate further about rotator cuff anatomy and biomechanics of the shoulder joint.