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[The sublabral foramen. Congenital or an acquired variance?]
C U Schulz1, H Anetzberger, M Maier
1Orthopädische Klinik, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, München. christoph.schulz@helios.med.uni-muenchen.de
Der Unfallchirurg
|December 18, 2002
Summary
The sublabral foramen, a shoulder variant, appears to develop with age. In younger patients, symptoms may indicate trauma, requiring careful examination of the biceps anchor.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Anatomy
- Sports Medicine
Background:
- The sublabral foramen (SF) is an anatomical variant of the anterior-superior capsulo-labral complex.
- It is often asymptomatic but can complicate the diagnosis of traumatic shoulder injuries during arthroscopy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the pathogenesis of the sublabral foramen.
- To analyze the relationship between age, glenoid shape, and SF incidence.
Main Methods:
- Anatomical study of 89 macroscopically healthy shoulder specimens.
- Analysis of age distribution and glenoid morphology.
- Histological examination of three SF samples.
Main Results:
- Specimens with a sublabral foramen were significantly older (mean age 69) than those without (mean age 59).
- No significant correlation was found between SF incidence and specific glenoid shapes, though a glenoid with an anterior notch was more common.
- Histological analysis provided insights into SF development.
Conclusions:
- The sublabral foramen appears to be an age-related phenomenon.
- In younger individuals presenting with anterior-superior capsulolabral displacement, clinicians should rule out local trauma and biceps anchor involvement before diagnosing an SF.