The long biceps tendon runs through the shoulder joint. It can be affected by painful conditions and injuries. These include, among others, inflammatory conditions or injuries such as a tear or detachment of the biceps tendon.
Below you will find additional information as well as a selection of specialists in biceps tendon injuries.
Possible Conditions and Injuries of the Long Biceps Tendon
The long biceps tendon can be affected by inflammatory conditions, among other things.
Possible injuries include
- a tear of the long biceps tendon, as well as
- the less common so-called SLAP lesion (detachment of the biceps tendon anchor).
Location of the biceps tendon at the shoulder joint. Inflammation and injuries are common conditions © bilderzwerg | AdobeStock
Treatment of conditions and injuries of the long biceps tendon
A purely inflammatory condition of the long biceps tendon can be treated conservatively.
An isolated spontaneous tear of the long biceps tendon is virtually painless and does not require treatment.
Damage and partial tears of the long biceps tendon are often found in conjunction with other shoulder joint conditions. In cases of irreversible damage, it is necessary to transect the tendon at its insertion.
In older patients who do not require significant strength, simply cutting the diseased biceps tendon (known as a biceps tendon tenotomy) is sufficient. The tendon then slips out of the joint, becomes trapped, and forms scar tissue there. The pain disappears.
In younger or more active patients, the tendon is sutured back to the capsule arthroscopically after sectioning. This procedure is referred to as a biceps tendon tenodesis.
In rare cases, a so-called SLAP lesion occurs, which is a detachment of the biceps tendon anchor from the rim of the glenoid cavity. During arthroscopic shoulder surgery, the surgeon can suture the lesion back into place (known as a SLAP repair).
The duration of inpatient treatment is approximately four to five days.
Follow-up Care for Injuries to the Long Biceps Tendon
After a brief period of immobilization of the shoulder (usually 24 hours), the shoulder joint is treated with physical therapy at an early stage.
Following biceps tendon tenodesis and SLAP repair, the patient must avoid straining the biceps muscle for six weeks. After SLAP repair, the arm is immobilized in an abduction pillow for three weeks. The total rehabilitation period ranges from 10 to 12 weeks.
Sport-specific training can be resumed no earlier than 12 weeks after SLAP repair.
Duration of Work Disability
For office, teaching, management, or similar occupations, a return to work after three to six weeks is realistic.
For patients with physically demanding jobs, the full rehabilitation period should be factored in. Driving is possible again after four to six weeks.
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