Abduction moment arm of transposed subscapularis tendon

Tomotaka Nakajima, Jain Liu, Richard E. Hughes, Shawn O'Driscoll, Kai Nan An

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective. The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of the procedure of superior transposition of the subscapularis on the biomechanics of glenohumeral abduction. Design. The abduction moment arms of the subscapularis muscle for the normal attachment and transposed tendon were measured on 10 cadaver shoulders and compared to that for the normal supraspinatus tendon for which it is intended to substitute. Background. Superior transposition of the subscapularis tendon has been recommended for surgical repair of massive tears of the rotator cuff, but the effect of this procedure on shoulder biomechanics has not been reported. Methods. The moment arm about an instantaneous center of rotation was derived, based on the slope of tendon excursion-glenohumeral angle curve. To simulate the insertion of the transposed subscapularis tendon, pseudo-insertion sites were created. Results. Superior transposition of the subscapularis tendon significantly increased its abduction moment arm. The effect was optimal when the simulated insertion site was lateral rather than medial and, to a lesser extent, anterior versus posterior. Conclusions. The results provided a biomechanical rationale for subscapularis tendon transposition in restoring the loss of abduction strength of the shoulder in a massive cuff tear.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)265-270
Number of pages6
JournalClinical Biomechanics
Volume14
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - May 1999

Keywords

  • Abduction moment arm
  • Biomechanics
  • Massive tear
  • Rotator cuff
  • Shoulder joint
  • Subscapularis tendon transposition
  • Tendon excursion

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biophysics
  • Orthopedics and Sports Medicine

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