Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Knipe H, Weerakkody Y, Baba Y, et al. Acromiohumeral interval. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 26 Mar 2025) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-30619
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Henry Knipe had the following disclosures:
- Integral Diagnostics, Shareholder (ongoing)
- Micro-X Ltd, Shareholder (ongoing)
These were assessed during peer review and were determined to
not be relevant to the changes that were made.
View Henry Knipe's current disclosures
Acromiohumeral interval is a useful and reliable measurement on AP shoulder radiographs and when narrowed is indicative of subacromial impingement, rotator cuff tear and/or tendinopathy. In patients with rotator cuff repair, a narrow acromiohumeral interval is a risk factor for re-tear 7.
The shortest distance is measured.
Plain radiograph
MRI
can also be performed on coronal and sagittal oblique T1 MR images
inferior aspect of the acromion (marked by black line directly above the humeral head) directly inferiorly to the centre of the subchondral cortex of the humeral head 3
Measurements of the acromiohumeral interval in the following intervals are suggestive of pathology 1,2:
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2. Davies AM. Imaging of the Shoulder: Techniques and Applications (Medical Radiology / Diagnostic Imaging). Springer. ISBN:B0014DAE8A. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
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3. Saupe N, Pfirrmann CW, Schmid MR et-al. Association between rotator cuff abnormalities and reduced acromiohumeral distance. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2006;187 (2): 376-82. doi:10.2214/AJR.05.0435 - Pubmed citation
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4. Scheyerer MJ, Brunner FE, Gerber C. The acromiohumeral distance and the subacromial clearance are correlated to the glenoid version. (2016) Orthopaedics & traumatology, surgery & research : OTSR. 102 (3): 305-9. doi:10.1016/j.otsr.2015.12.020 - Pubmed
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5. Umer M, Qadir I, Azam M. Subacromial Impingement Syndrome. Orthop Rev (Pavia). 2012;4(2):e18. doi:10.4081/or.2012.e18
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6. Fehringer E, Rosipal C, Rhodes D et al. The Radiographic Acromiohumeral Interval is Affected by Arm and Radiographic Beam Position. Skeletal Radiol. 2008;37(6):535-9. doi:10.1007/s00256-008-0467-y - Pubmed
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7. Zhao J, Luo M, Pan J et al. Risk Factors Affecting Rotator Cuff Retear After Arthroscopic Repair: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2021;30(11):2660-70. doi:10.1016/j.jse.2021.05.010 - Pubmed
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