THE FIBROUS FRAME OF THE ROTATOR CUFF - T HE CONCEPT OF ANTERIO-SUPERIOR LOCK

MRI assessment of shoulder suggests the presence of a strong fibrous s tructure in the depth of the supra spinatus muscle. An anatomical stud y has been performed in 20 fresh human shoulders. There was a very str ong fibrous frame within the anterior part of the supra spinatus m. an d within the upper part of the sub scapularis. The upper part of the i nfra spinatus m. contained a significant fibrous reinforcement too so as in the teres minor m. The authors describe fibrous structures aroun d the rotator interval, which constitute an antero-superior Fibrous Lo ck of the scapulo humeral joint and may help the repair of the full th ickness tears of the rotator cuff.