Rotator Cable

funiculus rotatorius tendinis rotatorii

The rotator cable is a dense fibrous band within the rotator cuff that runs perpendicular to and across the supraspinatus and infraspinatus tendons, from the coracohumeral ligament anteriorly to the posterior rotator cuff, creating a cable-pulley system that distributes load around focal cuff defects.

Region: Chest

Biomechanics

Function & Actions

Redistributes tensile load around full-thickness rotator cuff tears, explaining why patients with massive cuff tears can maintain useful shoulder function — the cable transmits force around rather than through the defect, via the anterior and posterior crescent regions.

Clinical Relevance

Clinical Notes

Understanding the rotator cable explains the "cable sign" on MRI — intact cable tissue bridging a cuff tear allows continued shoulder function. Cuff tears within the avascular crescent (between the cable and the insertion) tend to remain stable, while tears through the cable produce more functional loss. Cable-intact repairs have better outcomes than cable-disrupted tears.

Pathology

Common Injuries & Conditions

Cable-Intact Massive Rotator Cuff Tear

Large supraspinatus tear with intact rotator cable maintaining useful shoulder function by redistributing load — better functional outcomes with partial repair targeting the cable margins.

Rotator Cable Sign on MRI

Intact low-signal band (rotator cable) bridging a rotator cuff tear on coronal MRI, indicating preserved load distribution and predicting relatively maintained shoulder function despite tear size.