Cadaveric study of 20 fresh-frozen shoulders using 3-space digitizer mapping to establish the first quantitative normative data on rotator cuff insertion area, dimensions, and distance from the articular surface — answering how large the footprint actually is and how close it sits to the joint surface.
When planning rotator cuff repair or evaluating footprint coverage, remember that the supraspinatus footprint averages only 1.55 cm² with a medial-to-lateral depth of ~1.27 cm — partial repairs or medialized anchors that miss this zone leave significant native footprint uncovered.
The anterior cuff's ≤1 mm clearance from the articular cartilage also means that even small anterior undersurface tears encroach on the articular margin, which matters when deciding whether to complete or repair a partial-thickness tear.
Cadaveric study of 20 fresh-frozen shoulders using 3-space digitizer mapping to establish the first quantitative normative data on rotator cuff insertion area, dimensions, and distance from the articular surface — answering how large the footprint actually is and how close it sits to the joint surface.
When planning rotator cuff repair or evaluating footprint coverage, remember that the supraspinatus footprint averages only 1.55 cm² with a medial-to-lateral depth of ~1.27 cm — partial repairs or medialized anchors that miss this zone leave significant native footprint uncovered.
The anterior cuff's ≤1 mm clearance from the articular cartilage also means that even small anterior undersurface tears encroach on the articular margin, which matters when deciding whether to complete or repair a partial-thickness tear.