Radiographic evaluation of the bicipital groove morphology does not predict intraarticular changes in the long head of biceps tendon

Introduction and objectives

This study aimed to examine the clinical utility of the radiographic evaluation of the bicipital groove in predicting long head of biceps tendon (LHBT) pathology.

Material and methods

A prospective study was conducted, and sixty consecutive patients proposed to shoulder arthroscopic surgery were selected. Before surgery, a radiographic evaluation was performed with a supine and a Fisk radiograph. Most supine radiographs (>75%) were non-interpretable and were excluded from the study. As some Fisk radiographs (26.7%) were also non-interpretable, that left 44 interpretable radiographs in the study. These were measured for medial opening angle, total opening angle, width and depth of the bicipital groove. The radiographic measurements and the presence of LHBT pathology, as assessed at arthroscopy, were correlated.

Results

Radiographic evaluation of the bicipital groove showed a mean medial opening angle of 53 ± 15° (23–90), a mean total opening angle of 80 ± 26° (30–135), a mean width of 10.3 ± 2.5 mm (6–19) and a mean depth of 4.1 ± 1.5 mm (1–8). Men had higher medial opening angle (60 vs 50°, p = 0.044) and wider grooves (11.9 vs 9.7 mm, p = 0.019). Twenty-five patients (56.8%) were found to have an abnormal LHBT. No correlation was found between the radiographic measurements and LHBT pathology. Only age was correlated with a LHBT lesion (61.8 vs 46.3 years, p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Our results show that there is no correlation between radiographic morphologic evaluation of the bicipital groove and LHBT pathology.