Degeneration of the Gleno-Humeral Joint: An Anatomical Study

Abstract

One hundred and fifty-one shoulder dissections were performed on 76 cadavera, 41 men and 35 women, with an average age of 68 (range 18-92). Before the age of 60 no degenerative changes were encountered but after 60, degeneration and full thickness ruptures of the rotator cuff, cartilage degeneration and degeneration and ruptures of the long biceps tendon appeared in an increasing frequency with age. A highly significant relationship between cuff degeneration and cartilage degeneration was found. Measurement of the thickness of normal joint cartilage of the caput humeri did not show any changes with time. Gleno-humeral degeneration was encountered bilaterally in 82 per cent and was more frequent in women, and there is little evidence that occupation is of major importance for the development of shoulder joint degeneration.