Anatomic factors associated with degeneration and fraying of the coracoacromial ligament

The coracoacromial ligament (CAL) is frequently observed to be damaged during arthroscopy and it is unclear how demographic, anatomic, and radiographic factors are related to CAL degeneration in full-thickness rotator cuff tears.

A prospective study was conducted of patients at a single institution undergoing shoulder arthroscopy for first-time, full-thickness rotator cuff tears. We evaluated preoperative anteroposterior radiographs to obtain critical shoulder angle, glenoid inclination, acromial index, acromiohumeral distance, lateral acromial angle, and acromial morphology. We documented CAL quality, rotator cuff tear size and pattern during arthroscopy. Multiple logistic regression was used to identify predictive factors for encountering severe CAL fraying during arthroscopy.

Shoulders had mild CAL degeneration in 58.1% of cases, whereas severe CAL degeneration was present in 41.9% of shoulders. Patients with severe CAL attrition were significantly older (62.0 years vs. 58.0 years, P=0.042). Shoulders with severe CAL attrition had large rotator cuff tears in 54.1% of cases (P<0.001), and tears involving the infraspinatus (63.2% vs. 29.6%, P=0.003). The severe degeneration group was more likely to have a larger critical shoulder angle measurement on preoperative radiographs than those in the mild attrition group (36.1°±3.6° [range, 30°-45°] vs. 34.1°±3.8° [range, 26°-45°], P=0.037).

While the clinical impact of CAL degeneration remains uncertain, increased severity of CAL degeneration is associated with older age, larger rotator cuff tear size, presence of infraspinatus tearing, and increased preoperative critical shoulder angle. Level of evidence: III.