Orthopedics

Your Article Summary

See Latest Articles

Diagnosis and Treatment of Biceps Tendinitis and Tendinosis
American Family Physician, 08/31/09

Churgay CA – Biceps tendinitis is inflammation of the tendon around the long head of the biceps muscle. Biceps tendinosis is caused by degeneration of the tendon from athletics requiring overhead motion or from the normal aging process. Biceps tendinitis and tendinosis are commonly accompanied by rotator cuff tears or SLAP (superior labrum anterior to posterior) lesions. Patients with biceps tendinitis or tendinosis usually complain of a deep, throbbing ache in the anterior shoulder. Repetitive overhead motion of the arm initiates or exacerbates the symptoms. The most common isolated clinical finding in biceps tendinitis is bicipital groove point tenderness with the arm in 10 degrees of internal rotation. Local anesthetic injections into the biceps tendon sheath may be therapeutic and diagnostic. Ultrasonography is preferred for visualizing the overall tendon, whereas magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography arthrography is preferred for visualizing the intra–articular tendon and related pathology. Conservative management of biceps tendinitis consists of rest, ice, oral analgesics, physical therapy, or corticosteroid injections into the biceps tendon sheath. Surgery should be considered if conservative measures fail after three months, or if there is severe damage to the biceps tendon.

Related Articles

See all related articles

Internal Impingement of the Shoulder in the Overhead Athlete
Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, 11/17/09    Relevance Score: 64%

A new operative treatment for chronic biceps femoris tendon avulsion
Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy, 11/02/09    Relevance Score: 45%

Surgical Treatment of Non-Insertional Achilles Tendinitis
Foot and Ankle Clinics, 10/27/09    Relevance Score: 43%

Distribution of Lubricin in the Ruptured Human Rotator Cuff and Biceps Tendon: A Pilot Study
Clinical Orthopedics and Related Research, 10/09/09    Relevance Score: 43%

Nonoperative Treatment of Distal Biceps Tendon Ruptures Compared with a Historical Control Group
Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, 10/07/09    Relevance Score: 43%

Today in Shoulder and Elbow...keeping you current

Receive free subspecialty "5-minute updates" via email

Displaced medial epicondyle fractures of the humerus: surgical treatment and results. A report of 139 cases
Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, 12/11/09

Altered neuromuscular control of a hand muscle in chronic rotator cuff tears
Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, 12/11/09

The results of ORIF of displaced unstable proximal humeral fractures using a locking plate
Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery, 12/10/09

 See all of Shoulder and Elbow