Rotator cable
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Weerakkody Y, Luijkx T, Hacking C, et al. Rotator cable. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 16 Mar 2025) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-38230
rID:
38230
Article created:
Disclosures:
At the time the article was created Yuranga Weerakkody had no recorded disclosures.
View Yuranga Weerakkody's current disclosures
Last revised:
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Yuranga Weerakkody had no recorded disclosures.
View Yuranga Weerakkody's current disclosures
Revisions:
6 times, by
4 contributors -
see full revision history and disclosures
Systems:
Sections:
Synonyms:
- Rotator cable: shoulder
- Rotator cable of the shoulder
The rotator cable is a fibrous structure associated with the rotator cuff. It is located at the medial aspect of the rotator crescent and formed by a thick bundle of fibers perpendicular to the supraspinatus and infraspinatus tendons. This morphology can be variable.
Radiographic features
Ultrasound
May be seen as a curvilinear structure running perpendicular and beneath the superior rotator cuff (i.e. supraspinatus and infraspinatus).
MRI
It may be seen in ~75% of cases on MRI 1:
- T2/PD: seen as a linear band of hypointense signal intensity along the undersurface of the supraspinatus and infraspinatus tendons
- according to one MRI study, it had a mean width of around 12 mm and was located approximately 13 mm from the rotator cuff humeral bony insertion
References
- 1. Gyftopoulos S, Bencardino J, Nevsky G et-al. Rotator cable: MRI study of its appearance in the intact rotator cuff with anatomic and histologic correlation. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2013;200 (5): 1101-5. doi:10.2214/AJR.12.9312 - Pubmed citation
- 2. Morag Y, Jacobson JA, Lucas D et-al. US appearance of the rotator cable with histologic correlation: preliminary results. Radiology. 2006;241 (2): 485-91. doi:10.1148/radiol.2412050800 - Pubmed citation
- 3. Morag Y, Jamadar DA, Boon TA et-al. Ultrasound of the rotator cable: prevalence and morphology in asymptomatic shoulders. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2012;198 (1): W27-30. doi:10.2214/AJR.10.5796 - Pubmed citation
- 4. Rahu M, Kolts I, Põldoja E, Kask K. Rotator cuff tendon connections with the rotator cable. (2017) Knee surgery, sports traumatology, arthroscopy : official journal of the ESSKA. 25 (7): 2047-2050. doi:10.1007/s00167-016-4148-4 - Pubmed
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