The biceps tendon footprint

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.