The Coracoacromial Ligament: Anatomy, Function, and Clinical Significance

Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine
Adam RothenbergAlbert Lin

Abstract

The coracoacromial ligament (CAL) was first described as a pain generator by Dr Charles Neer in the early 1970s. Since that time, considerable controversy regarding CAL management during acromioplasty has persisted. This review aims to better understand the role of the CAL in shoulder physiology and pathology. Sixty-six articles from 1958 to 2016 were identified using an electronic search of PubMed, Cochrane Library, AccessMedicine, and MD Consult for case series as well as cohort and prospective studies. The authors used "coracoacromial ligament" and "coracoacromial veil" as medical subject headings (MeSH). In addition, reference lists from all identified articles were reviewed for studies that the search terms may have omitted. The CAL plays an important role in shoulder biomechanics, joint stability, and proprioception. Morphological variance of the CAL is evident throughout the literature. Age-dependent changes due to chronic stress and cellular degradation cause thickening and stiffening of the CAL that may contribute to a spectrum of shoulder pathology from capsular tightness to rotator cuff tear arthropathy and impingement syndrome. The CAL is an integral component of the coracoacromial arch. CAL release during acromiopl...Continue Reading

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Citations

Jul 31, 2018·Sports Medicine and Arthroscopy Review·Wajeeh Bakhsh, Gregg Nicandri
Apr 19, 2019·The American Journal of Sports Medicine·Hsuan-Hsiao MaHsiao-Li Ma
Jan 15, 2020·Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery·Ulunay KanatlıAhmet Yigit Kaptan
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Mar 19, 2019·BioMed Research International·Mehmet Demir, Bülent Güneri
Oct 4, 2020·Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery·Kazumasa TakayamaYuu Kobori
Jun 1, 2021·Hand Surgery and Rehabilitation·M BachyF Fitoussi
Jun 15, 2021·Arthroscopy : the Journal of Arthroscopic & Related Surgery : Official Publication of the Arthroscopy Association of North America and the International Arthroscopy Association·Mustafa A İncesoyAbdulhamit Misir
Nov 30, 2021·Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy : Official Journal of the ESSKA·Simone CercielloGiuseppe Milano

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