Anatomic variance of the coracoclavicular ligaments Richard I. Harris, BSc(Hons), Dzung H. Vu, MBBS, MD, David H. Sonnabend, BSc(Med), MBBS, Jerome A. Goldberg, MBBS, and William R. Walsh, PhD, Sydney, Australia The coracoclavicular ligaments vary widely in morphology joint range from cartilaginous extensions of the conoid and anatomic descriptions. Few authors have adequately tubercle of the clavicle to the presence of synovial cap- described the coracoclavicular ligaments’ anatomy, and a sules and articular disks intervening across the space. number of discrepancies exist in the anatomy literature. Lewis,4 in describing the presence of 3 coracoclavicular This study examines the complex anatomy of the coraco- bursae, postulated that a coracoclavicular joint can be clavicular ligaments and their relationships to clinically defined as a spectrum of features from a bursa to a well- developed articulation, and the form warranting descrip- important bony landmarks. The geometric dimensions of 24 tion as a joint is a matter of opinion. Textbooks and coracoclavicular ligament specimens from fresh human anatomic studies differ widely in their representations of cadaveric shoulders were examined and quantified with 13 the course and attachments of the coracoclavicular liga- different measurements. Particular attention was given to ments—the conoid and trapezoid. The complex topog- any inter-specimen anatomic variance. The coracoid inser- raphy of the coracoid process and the irregular shapes tions of the conoid ligaments displayed high variance, with of the conoid and trapezoid ligaments often complicate 33% (8/24) being confluent with the lateral fibers of the descriptions and 2-dimensional drawings. Furthermore, superior transverse scapular ligament. A further 15% there are few geometric data that quantify the ligament (3/24) presented an additional lateral fascicle. The dis- dimensions and bony relationships of the region. tance from the lateral trapezoid ligament to the distal clavi- Mechanical studies have only recently examined the cle averaged 15.3 mm. Three distinct and previously unre- function of the conoid and trapezoid ligaments in human cadaveric models.2,3,5 Although the true func- ported conoid ligament variants lend themselves to an tion of these ligaments is still unknown, the complex as anatomic classification (types I, II, and III). A safety margin a whole provides clinically important structural support of 15 mm is suggested for distal clavicle resection in incom- for the acromioclavicular joint. This study examines the plete acromioclavicular joint injuries to preserve the intact morphology of the coracoclavicular ligaments and coracoclavicular ligament. (J Shoulder Elbow Surg revisits their complex anatomy. 2001;10:585-8.) MATERIALS AND METHODS INTRODUCTION Nineteen fresh-frozen and 5 embalmed shoulder spec- imens were dissected free of all nonligamentous soft tissue The coracoclavicular region varies greatly in devel- and examined macroscopically. All donors were white opment and its described anatomy. Much of the varia- persons with a mean age of 70 years (range, 55-90 tion described in the literature relates to the presence years) and were free of musculoskeletal disease. Anatom- ic examination included 13 different geometric measure- and form of articular facets and synovial structures with- ments (Figure 1), mapping of the coracoid and clavicular in the coracoclavicular ligaments, sometimes forming attachment areas, and a description of the anatomic well-developed diarthrodial articulations or a coraco- courses and relationships of the conoid and trapezoid clavicular joint. Several authors have cited the presence components. and incidence of coracoclavicular joints in various pop- All measurements were taken with the clavicle and ulations and racial groups.1,4,6,7,9,11 Definitions of the scapula aligned anatomically, with the tension on the cora- coclavicular ligaments estimated to be as close to equal as From Orthopaedic Research Laboratories, Prince of Wales Hos- possible. To simulate resting in vivo loading conditions, the pital, and the School of Anatomy, University of New South scapula was suspended by gravity from the clavicle, ensur- Wales, Sydney, Australia. ing that the acromioclavicular joint was approximated and Reprint requests: Associate Professor William R. Walsh, PhD, uniform tension on both the conoid and trapezoid liga- Director, Orthopaedic Research Laboratories, Department of ments could be palpated. Specific bone-ligament insertion Orthopaedic Surgery, High Street, Randwick, Sydney, NSW, landmarks were defined on the coracoid and clavicle to 2031, Australia (E-mail: [email protected]). serve as boundary markers of ligament borders. Ligament Copyright © 2001 by Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery boundaries and the axes along which they were measured Board of Trustees. are described in Figure 1. All geometric measurements 1058-2746/2001/$35.00 + 0 32/1/118480 were recorded 3 times with Vernier calipers accurate to doi:10.1067/mse.2001.118480 0.1 mm. A fourth measurement was performed by an 585 586 Harris et al J Shoulder Elbow Surg November/December 2001 Table Mean, range, and SD of averaged geometric measurements Dimension (mm) Mean Range SD 1. Medial conoid length 19.4 13.5-27.3 4.8 2. Anterior trapezoid length 19.3 15.0-23.0 2.6 3. Conoid clavicular width 20.6 15.5-25.0 3.6 4. Conoid coracoid width 10.6 7.0-12.5 2.0 5. Trapezoid clavicular width 21.7 16.5-29.5 4.0 6. Trapezoid coracoid width 14.0 10.5-18.0 2.8 7. Conoid thickness a. Superior 8.6 5.7-10.5 1.6 b. Middle 5.9 3.8-7.1 1.1 c. Inferior 4.4 3.2-5.2 0.7 8. Trapezoid thickness a. Superior 16.0 12.2-20.5 3.1 b. Middle 5.5 3.1-8.9 1.9 c. Inferior 4.8 3.8-5.6 0.6 9. Distal clavicle 15.3 11.0-22.8 3.8 Medial conoid length, Distance between coracoid and clavicular insertions along medial border; Anterior trapezoid length, dis- tance between coracoid and clavicular insertions along anterior border; Conoid clavicular width, greatest distance between medial and lateral clavicular insertion borders; Conoid coracoid width, greatest distance between medial and lateral coracoid Figure 1 The 13 measured ligament dimensions. 1, Medial insertion borders; Trapezoid clavicular width, distance between conoid length; 2, anterior trapezoid length; 3, conoid clavicular anterior and posterior clavicular insertion points; Trapezoid width; 4, conoid coracoid width; 5, trapezoid clavicular width; 6, conoid width, distance between anterior and posterior conoid trapezoid coracoid width; 7, conoid thickness (a, superior; b, middle; c, inferior); 8, trapezoid thickness (a, superior; b, middle; insertion points; Conoid thickness: Superior, distance between c, inferior); 9, distal clavicle. anterior and posterior aspect at clavicle insertion; Middle, dis- tance between anterior and posterior aspect at midpoint between clavicle and coracoid; Inferior, distance between anteri- or and posterior aspect at coracoid insertion; Trapezoid thick- independent recorder for precision. The 4 values were ness: Superior, distance between medial and lateral aspect at averaged. Ligament attachment areas were mapped by clavicle insertion; Middle, distance between medial and lateral transecting ligaments close to their insertions, leaving only aspect at midpoint between clavicle and coracoid; Inferior, dis- remnants of fibers. Inter-specimen variation in anatomic tance between medial and lateral aspect at coracoid insertion; course and relationships of the conoid and trapezoid liga- Distal clavicle, distance from lateral-most clavicular attachment of ments were also recorded. trapezoid ligament to distal border of superior clavicle. RESULTS A summary of the geometric parameters measured is The trapezoid ligament’s clavicular attachment area listed in the Table. In all 24 specimens, the conoid and was typically oval-shaped, encircling the trapezoid trapezoid ligaments originated from a broad area on ridge and an extensive area medial to it. In some spec- the clavicle and tapered cephalocaudally to a smaller imens the shape of the attachment area was narrower insertion area on the coracoid. The conoid ligament’s and more oblong than oval. Regardless of the shape, clavicular insertion was approximately twice as wide the trapezoid ridge served as the lateral limit of the (medial to lateral) and thick (anterior to posterior) as its trapezoid ligament’s attachment area. The trapezoid coracoid insertion, giving rise to its inverted cone shape. ligament’s coracoid insertion covered the majority of The trapezoid ligament was more than 3 times thicker at the posterior half of the coracoid dorsum, with the its clavicular end than at its coracoid end, but its width exception of the posterior-most limit near the angle of narrowed to a lesser extent than the conoid ligament. the coracoid (the point at which the horizontal plateau The free edges of the conoid and trapezoid ligaments drops off steeply). were nearly identical in length (superior to inferior), The clavicular attachment area of the conoid liga- despite the much shorter appearance of the conoid lig- ment was limited by the conoid tubercle posteriorly and ament when it is viewed anteriorly. Distal clavicle mea- extended into an oval-shaped area anterior to it. This surements (ie, the inferior portion of distal clavicle not area lay directly adjacent to the attachment of the covered by the trapezoid ligament) averaged 15.3 mm. trapezoid ligament. The attachments of the 2 ligaments Some specimens were as close as 11 mm. were