Biceps tenodesis for painful inferior subluxation of the shoulder in adult acquired hemiplegia.

Painless inferior subluxation of the shoulder is a common finding following stroke and is a manifestation of the adynamic nature of the disorder. The weight of the limb is not counterbalanced by shoulder musculature. This is a preliminary report of a simple tenodesis procedure performed in six patients with uniformly successful reduction of the subluxation. The tenodesis is performed through a short deltopectoral approach. The tendon of the long head of the biceps is looped over the coracoid process of the scapula and secured with a barbed staple, thus reducing the subluxation. The indications were painful inferior subluxation of a flail shoulder and failure of multiple orthotic attempts to relieve discomfort. Follow-up evaluation ranged from ten to 42 months with no instances of pain or recurrent subluxation in five cases. The one failure was in a patient whose pain was thought to be thalamic in origin. The subluxation was reduced, but the pain persisted.