The coracohumeral ligament (C-H lig.) is a kind of capsular ligament that originates from the lateral base of the coracoid process, separates anteriorly and posteriorly, and inserts into the greater and lesser tuberosities. This ligament restrains the external rotation and the abduction of the shoulder joint.
The rotator interal (RI) is the space between the superior border of the subscapularis and the adjacent supraspinatus tendon. It is formed by thin, elastic, and membranous tissues.
We have studied the pathogenesis of the contracted shoulder by the autopsy. We have recognized that the degeneration of the C-H lig. and the RI is the main pathology of the contracted shoulder as Ozaki described.
We operated on 4 cases of the idiopathic contracted shoulder by resecting the C-H lig. and the scar tissue of the RI. All of them have got good functional results.