1. A radiological study of the acromio-humcral interval in 60 normal shoulders and in 59 shoulders with known tears of the rotator cuff is reported. 2. The normal acromio-humeral interval was found to be 7 to 14 millimetres, a range that is consistent with previous observations. 3. Narrowing of this interval is a frequent concomitant of a tear of the rotator cuff. 4. An interval of 5 millimetres or less should be considered compatible with a tear of the rotator cuff until proven otherwise. 5. An explanation of the pathomechanics of the observation has been proposed.
Copyright remains with the authors and publisher.
1. A radiological study of the acromio-humcral interval in 60 normal shoulders and in 59 shoulders with known tears of the rotator cuff is reported. 2. The normal acromio-humeral interval was found to be 7 to 14 millimetres, a range that is consistent with previous observations. 3. Narrowing of this interval is a frequent concomitant of a tear of the rotator cuff. 4. An interval of 5 millimetres or less should be considered compatible with a tear of the rotator cuff until proven otherwise. 5. An explanation of the pathomechanics of the observation has been proposed.
Copyright remains with the authors and publisher.