Anterior shoulder stability: Contributions of rotator cuff forces and the capsular ligaments in a cadaver model

The purpose of this study was to quantify in a biomechanical model the contributions to shoulder joint stability that are made by tensions in the four tendons of the rotator cuff and by static resistance of defined portions of the capsular ligaments. A materials testing machine was used to directly determine anterior joint laxity by measurement of the force required to produce a standard anterior subluxation. Shoulders were tested in external or neutral humeral rotation. Data were analyzed by multiway analysis of variance with regression analysis. This model simulated tensions in the rotator cuff musculature by applying static loads at the tendon insertion sites acting along the anatomic lines of action. A load in any of the cuff tendons resulted in a measurable and statistically significant contribution to anterior joint stability. The contributions between different tendons were not significantly different and did not depend on the humeral rotation (neutral or external). In neutral humeral rotation the superior and middle glenohumeral ligaments together function equally with the inferior glenohumeral ligament as primary stabilizers against anterior humeral translation. The posterior capsule is a secondary stabilizer. The external rotation of the abducted humerus increases anterior stability by more than doubling the stability contribution from the inferior glenohumeral ligament. The stability contribution from the posterior capsule is larger in external rotation than in neutral rotation but is still of secondary magnitude. In external rotation the stability contribution of the anterior capsule, including the superior glenohumeral ligament and the middle glenohumeral ligament, becomes insignificant. The model presented here simulates the combined effect of two major sources of shoulder stability. This versatile model permits the direct measurement of the contributions to anterior shoulder stability that are made by tensions in the rotator cuff tendons and by static resistance of defined capsular zones. The use of multiple regression analysis-a standard statistical technique but one relatively new to the orthopaedic literature-permits quantitative determination of the contribution of each independent variable to the dependent variable, shoulder stability.