Intraarticular dislocation of the long head of biceps tendon

Case contributed by Matt Skalski
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Unknown

Patient Data

Age: 45 years old
Gender: Male

There is a massive full-thickness tear involving nearly the entirety of the rotator cuff with dislocation of the long head of the biceps tendon into the glenohumeral joint. There is also masseration of the glenoid labrum with extensive joint effusion mimicking a contrast arthrogram, with evolving hemorrage inferiorly and laterally to the humerus under the delotid. The humerus is superiorly subluxed with patchy marrow edema.

Case Discussion

This case demonstrates an intraarticular biceps dislocation (Habermeyer and Walch class 3B, type 2) secondary to a massive full-thickness tear involving nearly the entirety of the rotator cuff. This is a rare and extreme pattern of biceps tendon dislocation. 

This case is courtesy of George Matcuk, MD who generously shared it with me. 

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