Isolated tear of the cord-like middle glenohumeral ligament in Buford complex

RATIONALE We describe a rare case of the isolated tear in the cord-like middle glenohumeral ligament (MGHL) in Buford complex. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report in the English literature about the isolated tear of cord-like MGHL in Buford complex. The present report describes in detail our experience with the diagnosis of isolated tear of the cord-like MGHL in Buford complex and management. PATIENT CONCERNS A 50-year-old female patient visited our hospital with pain and stiffness in the right shoulder that lasted for 9 months. DIAGNOSES The clinical impression was frozen shoulder by primary impingement syndrome of right shoulder and the magnetic resonance (MR) images showed tear of cord-like MGHL. INTERVENTIONS We repaired the torn MGHL with the arthroscopic technique. OUTCOMES Positive outcome by arthroscopic repair demonstrates that this disease entity is one of spectrum of pathologic condition in shoulder joint. LESSONS Isolated tear of cord-like MGHL should be restored to the original anatomy for positive outcome.