Thin-layer plastination of the shoulder

Thomas M 1, Steinke H 2

1 Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Leipzig, Germany
2 Department of Anatomy, University of Leipzig, Germany

Abstract

Background: The interpretation of split images produced by CT, MRI or sonography requires precise knowledge about topographical anatomy of the shoulder. This is valid special for examinations in new joint positions as the apprehension-test position that is representative for an anterior shoulder instability. Up to now comparative studies were mostly performed with frozen sections. A new anatomical procedure of split images is the thin-layer plastination procedure described by Steinke.

Objective: The purpose of this study was the detailed description of the topographical anatomy of the shoulder in the apprehension-test position using by the thin-layer plastination procedure.

Materials and methods: Two shoulder-arm samples were stored in 90 degree of abduction and maximally external rotation according to the apprehension-test position and then the shoulder-arm samples were plastinated with the procedure of Steinke. The cutting planes were coronal for the right shoulder and axial for the left shoulder-arm sample. The thin-layer plastinates were digitalized in a high-resolution manner and then analyzed at a workstation.

Results: The thin-layer plastinates with a thickness of 800 µm and a resolution of 1200 dpi demonstrated the topographical anatomical relation of all structures in the coronal and axial plane. All anatomical structures of the shoulder could be identified due to detailed reproduction quality.

Conclusion: The thin-layer plastination as a new anatomical sectional procedure allows a detailed description of the topographical anatomy of the shoulder especially for the examination in new joint positions as the apprehension-test position.

Keywords: plastination, normal sectional anatomy, shoulder joint, apprehension-test position