Summary
The vascular supply of the rotator cuff in 22 adult shoulders was studied by way of mixture infusion of gelatin and India ink and vascular cast, in combination with Scanning Electronic Microscopy of the vascular pattern in the supraspinatus tendon. It was found that the vessels of the supraspinatus tendon mainly derive from the anterior circumflex humeral and suprascapular arteries. Macroscopically, an avascular zone or critical zone could be seen on the surface of supraspinatus, and the mean distance of the external edge from the osteo-tendinous attachment was 7.8 mm. The area of the avascular zone increased with age.
Résumé
La vascularisation de la coiffe des rotateurs a été étudiée sur 22 épaules de sujets adultes après injections vasculaires d'un mélange de gélatine et d'encre de Chine et analyse du réseau vasculaire du tendon du m. supra-épineux au microscope électronique. On a ainsi constaté que les vaisseaux du tendon du m. supra-épineux provenaient essentiellement de l'a. circonflexe antérieure de l'humérus et de l'a. suprascapulaire. Macroscopiquement, on peut voir à la surface de ce tendon une zone avasculaire ou une zone critique dont le bord externe est situé à 7 ou 8 mm en moyenne de l'insertion osseuse de ce tendon. La surface de cette zone avasculaire augmente avec l'âge.
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Ling, SC., Chen, CF. & Wan, RX. A study on the vascular supply of the supraspinatus tendon. Surg Radiol Anat 12, 161–165 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01624517
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01624517