Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

In vivo articular cartilage contact at the glenohumeral joint: preliminary report

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Journal of Orthopaedic Science

Abstract

Background

Little is known about normal in vivo mechanics of the glenohumeral joint. Such an understanding would have significant implications for treating disease conditions that disrupt shoulder function. The objective of this study was to determine articular contact locations between the glenoid and humeral articular surfaces in normal subjects during shoulder abduction with neutral, internal, and external rotations. We hypothesized that glenohumeral articular contact is not perfectly centered and is variable in normal subjects tested under physiological loading conditions.

Methods

Orthogonal fluoroscopic images and magnetic resonance image-based computer models were used to characterize the centroids of articular cartilage contact of the glenohumeral joint at various static, actively stabilized abduction and rotation positions in five healthy shoulders. The shoulder was investigated at 0°, 45°, and 90° abduction with neutral rotation and then at 90° abduction combined with active maximal external rotation and active maximal internal rotation.

Results

For all the investigated positions, the centroid of contact on the glenoid surface for each individual, on average, was more than 5 mm away from the geometric center of the glenoid articular surface. Intersubject variation of the centroid of articular contact on the glenoid surface was observed with each investigated position, and 90° abduction with maximal internal rotation showed the least variability. On the humeral head surface, the centroids of contact were located at the superomedial quarter for all investigated positions, except in two subjects’ positions at 0° abduction, neutral rotation.

Conclusions

The data showed that the in vivo glenohumeral contact locations were variable among subjects, but in all individuals they were not at the center of the glenoid and humeral head surfaces. This confirms that “ball-in-socket” kinematics do not govern normal shoulder function. These insights into glenohumeral articular contact may be relevant to an appreciation of the consequences of pathology such as rotator cuff disease and instability.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Lippitt S, Matsen F. Mechanisms of glenohumeral joint stability. Clin Orthop 1993;291:20–28.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Cole BJ, Warner JJP. Anatomy, biomechanics, and pathophysiology of glenohumeral instability. In: Iannotti JP, Williams GR, editors. Disorders of the shoulder: diagnosis and management. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 1999. p. 207–232.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Engin AE, Peindl RD. On the biomechanics of human shoulder complex. I. Kinematics for determination of the shoulder complex sinus. J Biomech 1987;20:103–117.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Högfors C, Sigholm G, Herberts P. Biomechanical model of the human shoulder: I. Elements. J Biomech 1987;20:157–166.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Harryman DT 2nd, Sidles JA, Clark JM, McQuade KJ, Gibb TD, Matsen FA 3rd. Translation of the humeral head on the glenoid with passive glenohumeral motion. J Bone Joint Surg Am 1990;72:1334–1343.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Howell SM, Galinat BJ. The glenoid-labral socket: a constrained articular surface. Clin Orthop 1989;243:122–125.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Kelkar R, Wang VM, Flatow EL, Newton PM, Ateshian GA, Bigliani LU, et al. Glenohumeral mechanics: a study of articular geometry, contact, and kinematics. J Shoulder Elbow Surg 2001;10:73–84.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Lösch A, Eckstein F, Haubner M, Englmeier KH. A non-invasive technique for 3-dimensional assessment of articular cartilage thickness based on MRI. Part 1. Development of a computational method. Magn Reson Imaging 1997;15:795–804.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Poppen NK, Walker PS. Forces at the glenohumeral joint in abduction. Clin Orthop 1978;Sept(135):165–170.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Wuelker N, Schmotzer H, Thren K, Korell M. Translation of the glenohumeral joint with simulated active elevation. Clin Orthop 1994;309:193–200.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Greis PE, Scuderi MG, Mohr RA, Bachus KN, Burks RT. Glenohumeral articular contact areas and pressures following labral and osseous injury to the anteroinferior quadrant of the glenoid. J Shoulder Elbow Surg 2002;11:442–451.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Iannotti JP, Gabriel JP, Schneck SL, Evans BG, Misra S. The normal glenohumeral relationships: an anatomical study of one hundred and forty shoulders. J Bone Joint Surg Am 1992;74:491–500.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Scherrer PK, Hillberry BM. Piecewise mathematical representation of articular surfaces. J Biomech 1979;12:301–311.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Soslowsky LJ, Flatow EL, Bigliani LU, Mow VC. Articular geometry of the glenohumeral joint. Clin Orthop 1992;285:181–190.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Soslowsky LJ, Flatow EL, Bigliani LU, Pawluk RJ, Ateshian GA, Mow VC. Quantitation of in situ contact areas at the glenohumeral joint: a biomechanical study. J Orthop Res 1992;10:524–534.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Conzen A, Eckstein F. Quantitative determination of articular pressure in the human shoulder joint. J Shoulder Elbow Surg 2000;9:196–204.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Warner JJ, Bowen MK, Deng X-H, Hannafin JA, Arnoczky SP, Warren RF. Articular contact patterns of the normal glenohumeral joint. J Shoulder Elbow Surg 1998;7:381–388.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Apreleva M, Hasselman CT, Debski RE, Fu FH, Woo SL-Y, Warner JJP. A dynamic analysis of glenohumeral motion after simulated capsulolabral injury: a cadaver model. J Bone Joint Surg Am 1998;80:474–480.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Debski RE, McMahon PJ, Thompson WO, Woo SL-Y, Warner JJP, Fu FH. A new dynamic testing apparatus to study glenohumeral joint motion. J Biomech 1995;28:869–874.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Li G, Wuerz TH, DeFrate LE. Feasibility of using orthogonal fluoroscopic images to measure in vivo joint kinematics. J Biomech Eng 2004;126:314–318.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Edelson JG. Patterns of degenerative change in the glenohumeral joint. J Bone Joint Surg Br 1995;77:288–292.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. McQuade KJ, Smidt GL. Dynamic scapulohumeral rhythm: the effects of external resistance during elevation of the arm in the scapular plane. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 1998;27:125–133.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Poppen NK, Walker PS. Normal and abnormal motion of the shoulder. J Bone Joint Surg Am 1976;58:195–201.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Howell SM, Galinat BJ, Renzi AJ, Marone PJ. Normal and abnormal mechanics of the glenohumeral joint in the horizontal plane. J Bone Joint Surg Am 1988;70:227–232.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Graichen H, Jakob J, von Eisenhart-Rothe R, Englmeier K-H, Reiser M, Eckstein F. Validation of cartilage volume and thickness measurements in the human shoulder with quantitative magnetic resonance imaging. Osteoarthritis Cartilage 2003;11:475–482.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Yeh LR, Kwak S, Kim Y-S, Chou DSW, Muhle C, Skaf A, et al. Evaluation of articular cartilage thickness of the humeral head and the glenoid fossa by MR arthrography: anatomic correlation in cadavers. Skeletal Radiol 1998;27:500–504.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Schulz CU, Pfahler M, Anetzberger HM, Becker CR, Müller-Gerbl M, Refior HJ. The mineralization patterns at the subchondral bone plate of the glenoid cavity in healthy shoulders. J Shoulder Elbow Surg 2002;11:174–181.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bioengineering Laboratory, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, GRJ-1215, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA

    Patrick J. Boyer, Daniel F. Massimini, Thomas J. Gill, Ramprasad Papannagari, Susan L. Stewart, Jon P. Warner & Guoan Li

  2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA

    Daniel F. Massimini

Authors
  1. Patrick J. Boyer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Daniel F. Massimini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Thomas J. Gill
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Ramprasad Papannagari
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Susan L. Stewart
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Jon P. Warner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Guoan Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

About this article

Cite this article

Boyer, P.J., Massimini, D.F., Gill, T.J. et al. In vivo articular cartilage contact at the glenohumeral joint: preliminary report. J Orthop Sci 13, 359–365 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00776-008-1237-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00776-008-1237-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation