The Relationship Between In-Vivo Glenohumeral Joint Motion and Joint Morphology in Rotator Cuff Repair Patients and Healthy Control Subjects

Abstract

Rotator cuff tears are a common condition that adversely affect function and quality of life. Altered glenohumeral joint (GHJ) motion is believed to contribute to the development of rotator cuff tears. Previous research has demonstrated relationships between in-vivo joint motion and bony morphology (particularly in the knee [e.g., 1]), and similar relationships have been reported in cadaveric shoulder studies [2, 3]. However, the extent to which these relationships exist under in-vivo conditions or if these relationships are altered in shoulders with pathologic conditions is not known. Thus, the objective of this study was to assess the relationship between glenoid/humerus morphology and in-vivo GHJ motion in healthy control shoulders and rotator cuff repair patients. We hypothesized that a relationship exists between glenoid/humerus morphology and GHJ motion in healthy control shoulders, but that this relationship is altered in rotator cuff patients.