Rotator interval closure is a technique that can be used to add additional reinforcement to the shoulder in patients who have complex types of instability where for example there is a lot of laxity (looseness) or in the setting of a revision surgery where the tissues may be compromised from the prior surgery. Typically the middle glenohumeral ligament is sutured to the superior glenohumeral ligament to reduce the volume of the joint and to reinforce these ligaments. This video shows how a Rotator Interval closure procedure can be performed to supplement the primary stabilizing procedure to to reinforce the joint capsule.
The rotator interval provides stability against inferior and posterior translations of the head of the upper arm bone within the shoulder joint, in particular when the arm is externally rotated. Deficiencies of the rotator interval contributes to instability of the shoulder joint in patients with excessive inferior and posterior translation. Structures that can be found within the rotator interval are the superior and middle glenohumeral ligaments and the long head of the biceps tendon. These structure contribute to restricting motion of the head of the upper arm bone within the shoulder joint and to stability of the biceps tendon.
In patients with posterior and multidirectional instability of the shoulder which show persistent inferior or inferoposterior translation, even after repair of the shoulder labrum and the inferior and middle glenohumeral ligaments, rotator interval closure is performed.
For more information on rotator cuff surgery, please contact Dr. Peter Millett, orthopedic specialist and sports medicine surgeon at his office in Vail, Colorado.
