Sistermann Roland
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Klinikum Dortmund, Beurhausstrasse. 40, DE-44137 Dortmund, Germany.
Acta Orthop. 2005 Apr;76(2):237-40. doi: 10.1080/00016470510030634.
By arthroscopy, we observed a phenomenon that, according to our knowledge not previously described, we call the "biceps tendon footprint" (BTF)--an area of chondromalacia beside the bicipital groove.
We studied 118 shoulder arthroscopies prospectively. We documented whether a BTF could be observed and what the main pathology associated with it was. We used 3 grades of cartilage wear to describe BTF, and we analyzed pathological changes in associated structures (subscapularis, biceps tendon and humeral head).
We found a BTF in 16% of the cases. Associated diagnoses were cuff tears and instabilities, most often multidirectional. We observed all 3 grades of cartilage wear, grade 3 being the commonest. Biceps synovitis occurred more often in the BTF group.
BTF is not a rare phenomenon. Maltraction of the intraarticular biceps tendon in MDI and cuff tears in addition with biceps synovitis appear to cause BTF.
