16 Long Head of Biceps Tendon Dislocation

CASE 16


Long Head of Biceps Tendon Dislocation


Kevin Rowan, Anthony G. Ryan, Peter L. Munk, and Bruce B. Forster


Clinical Presentation


A 55-year-old man presented to us with chronic shoulder pain, decreased range of motion, and decreased power.



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Figure 16A



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Figure 16B



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Figure 16C



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Figure 16D


Radiologic Findings


An axial T2-weighted gradient recalled echo (GRE) image (Fig. 16A) shows a medially dislocated long head of the biceps tendon (black arrow) anterior to the glenohumeral joint. The bicipital groove is empty (white arrowhead). The subscapularis tendon (white arrow) is torn from its attachment to the lesser tuberosity. A sagittal oblique T2-weighted image at the level of the humeral head (Fig. 16B) shows absence of the subscapularis (white arrow) and supraspinatus (arrowhead) tendons, consistent with full-thickness tears of both tendons. A sagittal oblique T2-weighted image at the level of the scapula (Fig. 16C) shows marked atrophy of the supraspinatus (black arrow) and subscapularis (white arrow) muscles. A coronal oblique T2-weighted image (Fig. 16D) shows a complete tear of the supraspinatus tendon (arrow) with retraction from the humeral insertion site.


Diagnosis


Medial dislocation of the long head of the biceps tendon, with associated subscapularis and supraspinatus tendon tears.


Differential Diagnosis

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Feb 14, 2016 | Posted by in MUSCULOSKELETAL IMAGING | Comments Off on 16 Long Head of Biceps Tendon Dislocation

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