Shallowing of the bicipital groove as a sequela of long head biceps tendon tear

TL;DR

This study shows that a torn long head biceps tendon leads to a shallower bicipital groove in the shoulder, which can help identify chronic tears on MRI.

Contribution

The study demonstrates that groove shallowing is a measurable consequence of chronic long head biceps tendon tears.

Findings

Torn LHBT groups had significantly shallower bicipital grooves compared to intact tendons.

Groove depth decreased over time in patients with chronic LHBT tears.

Groove shallowing may serve as a secondary sign of chronic LHBT tears on MRI.

Abstract

To evaluate the relationship of depth of the bicipital groove at the shoulder and chronicity of long head biceps tendon tear. To assess the effect of long head biceps tendon (LHBT) tears on the depth of the bicipital groove over time on shoulder MRI.

A retrospective study was conducted in two cohorts. The first cohort included age, gender, and BMI-matched patients with either a complete LHBT tear or an intact tendon on a single shoulder MRI. Bicipital groove depth was compared between these two groups. The second cohort consisted of patients with a complete LHBT tear and one or more follow-up shoulder MRIs, used to evaluate longitudinal changes in groove depth.

In the first cohort (n = 80; 40 complete LHBT tears, 40 intact tendons), the average bicipital groove depth was significantly shallower in the tear group (3.38 ± 1.23 mm) compared to the intact group (5.33 ± 0.87 mm) (p < 0.0001). In the second cohort (n = 31), initial groove depth averaged 4.94 ± 1.37 mm, decreasing to 2.47 ± 1.44 mm on follow-up MRI at an average of 40 months. The findings suggest that the morphology of the bicipital groove is maintained by the presence of an intact LHBT. Complete tears result in a gradual, measurable decrease in groove depth. Recognition of groove shallowing on MRI may serve as a secondary sign of chronic long head biceps tendon tear, aiding in diagnosis and assessment of chronicity.

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