Rotator interval lesions and their relation to coracoid impingement syndrome

In the last 10 years we have Found impingement of the coracoid process on t he rotator interval in 12 patients (14 shoulders). Seven of these patients were women and 5 were men; the average patient age was 48.5 years. One pati ent had a calcified coracohumeral ligament, another patient had an anterior tear of a repaired deltoid flap, and a third had an aberrant pectoralis mi nor tendon inserted into the rotator interval. Eleven patients had a weak r otator interval, and in 4 cases the rotator interval had a small tear. We c losed the rotator interval in all 12 patients. We also performed a coracoid oplasty in 5 of the patients. The condition of all shoulders improved clini cally after operation; the average follow-up was 4.2 years. Three patients (4 shoulders) still had moderate pain, and 7 patients (9 shoulders) lacked strength. Internal rotation was the only shoulder movement that remained li mited Although impingement seemed obvious during surgery experimental studi es have reported contradictory findings.