Medical and Biological Sciences
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Tendinopathy of the long head of the biceps tendon – physical examination confronted with shoulder arthroscopy findings
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.12775/MBS.2016.008
Abstract
Tendinoapthy is a common medical problem and its aetiopathology is multifactorial. Biceps tendon is more vulnerable to injurie due to anatomic and biomechanical conditions. The aim of the study was to present results of the physical examination and shoulder arthroscopy findings among patients suffering from biceps tendon tendinopathy.
The research was divided into two phases: preoperative and arthroscopic. First phase consisted of clinical examination- five clinical tests, level of pain assessment by use of VAS scale and analysis of the history of disease. Second phase presented 25 patients who underwent shoulder arthroscopy assisted biceps tendon tenotomy or tenodesis.
Clinical examination showed that the most accurate test for biceps tendon tendinopathy was tenderness in the bicipital groove. Mean VAS score was: 7.8. History of subjects tendinopathy was half traumatic and half overuse aetiology. Shoulder arthroscopy revealed other injuries and the most frequent accompanying lesions were rotator cuff tears.
The association between biceps tendon tendinopathy and other shoulder pathologies and problems with accuracy of clinical test have been noted by many authors. Due to so many accompanying lesions, diagnosis of biceps tendon tendinopathy needs to be supported by other diagnostic methods and shoulder arthroscopy is widely accepted as a gold standard to identify biceps tendon pathologyKeywords
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