2009 Injection Bicipital Tendon eMedicine Procedures

Description: Biceps (bicipital) tendonitis is an inflammation of the long head of the biceps tendon as it passes through the bicipital groove of the anterior humerus.
* Repetitive lifting and, to a lesser extent, overhead reaching lead to inflammation, microtearing, and, if untreated, degenerative change.
* Patients with bicipital tendonitis typically report anterior shoulder or humeral pain aggravated by lifting or overhead reaching.
* The patient often takes one finger and points directly to the bicipital groove when describing the pain.
* Patients may not be able to flex at the elbow against resistance because of the pain of active tendonitis.
* Anesthetic block may be necessary to distinguish the pain from the referred pain of rotator cuff pathology.
Ritu Khurana, MD Updated: Mar 9, 2009